As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 2002
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ----------------------

                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                -----------------
                               CONMED Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              New York                                          16-0977505
    (State or other jurisdiction                             (I.R.S. employer
         of incorporation or                              identification number)
            organization)

                                 525 French Road
                           Utica, New York 13502-5994
                                 (315) 797-8375
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                 including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)
                                 Daniel S. Jonas
                         Vice President - Legal Affairs
                               and General Counsel
                                 525 French Road
                           Utica, New York 13502-5994
                                 (315) 797-8375
                (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)
                             ----------------------
                                   Copies to:

      Robert W. Downes                               Allan G. Sperling
    Sullivan & Cromwell                      Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
      125 Broad Street                               One Liberty Plaza
     New York, NY 10004                              New York, NY 10006
       (212) 558-4000                                  (212) 225-2000

    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon
    as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

                             -----------------------

         If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.[ ]
         If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [ ]

         If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.[ ] __________

         If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering.[ ]
                                   ----------
         If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box.[ ]

                                   ----------


                                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=================================================================================================================
                                                                                   
                                                          Proposed maximum    Proposed maximum
    Title of each class of securities      Amount to be    offering price        aggregate          Amount of
             to be registered               Registered      per share(2)     offering price(2)  registration fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share     3,450,000          $25.285          $87,233,250          $8,026
                                            shares(1)
==================================================================================================================


(1) Includes 450,000 shares of Common Stock that the underwriters have the
    option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.

(2) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933
    solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee (based on the
    average of the high and low prices of CONMED Corporation common stock as
    reported in the Nasdaq National Market on April 24, 2002).

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file
a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement
shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting
pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
================================================================================



THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN
OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.



                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 1, 2002

PROSPECTUS
                                  [CONMED Logo]

                                3,000,000 Shares

                               CONMED Corporation

                                  Common Stock
                                $ _____ per share

                                    ---------

         We are selling 3,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering.
We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 450,000 additional
shares of our common stock to cover any over-allotments.

         Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "CNMD". The last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq
National Market on April 29, 2002, was $25.49 per share.

                                  ------------

         Investing in our common stock involves risks. See "Risk Factors"
beginning on page 7.

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                                  -------------

                                                   Per share            Total

                                              ----------------   ---------------
Public offering price                         $                  $
Underwriting discount                         $                  $
Proceeds to CONMED (before expenses)          $                  $


         The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to purchasers on or about
_________ __, 2002.

                                  -------------

Salomon Smith Barney
                 UBS Warburg
                        Needham & Company, Inc.
                                  First Albany Corporation

________ __, 2002






















                          [Insert Pictures of Products]


















                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                                    
                                                                                        Page
Summary....................................................................................1
Risk Factors...............................................................................7
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements................................13
Price Range of Our Common Stock...........................................................14
Dividend Policy...........................................................................14
Use of Proceeds...........................................................................15
Capitalization............................................................................16
Selected Financial Data...................................................................17
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.....20
Business..................................................................................30
Management................................................................................43
Description of Capital Stock..............................................................45
Shares Eligible for Future Sale...........................................................46
Underwriting..............................................................................48
Validity of Common Stock..................................................................50
Experts...................................................................................50
Where You Can Find More Information.......................................................50
Index to Financial Statements............................................................F-1

                           --------------------------

         You should rely only in the information contained in or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any
state or other jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not
assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any
date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.






                                     SUMMARY

         The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus or
incorporated by reference herein. An investment in the Common Stock involves
significant risks. See "Risk Factors."

                               CONMED Corporation

         CONMED Corporation is a medical technology company specializing in
instruments, implants and video equipment for arthroscopic sports medicine, and
powered surgical instruments, such as drills and saws, for orthopedic, ENT,
neuro-surgery and other surgical specialties. We are also a leading developer,
manufacturer and supplier of advanced surgical devices, including radio
frequency, or RF, electrosurgery systems used routinely to cut and cauterize
tissue in nearly all types of surgical procedures worldwide and endoscopy
products such as trocars, clip appliers, scissors and surgical staplers. We
also manufacture and sell a full line of ECG electrodes for heart monitoring
and other patient care products.

         The following table sets forth the percentage of net sales for each
category of our products for 1999, 2000 and 2001:

                                                  Year Ended December 31,
                                          --------------------------------------
                                             1999         2000           2001
                                          ----------  -------------  -----------
Arthroscopy...........................        38%          36%            36%
Powered surgical instruments..........        23           29             27
Electrosurgery........................        17           16             16
Patient Care..........................        21           17             16
Endoscopy.............................         1            2              5
                                          ----------  -------------  -----------
     Total............................       100%         100%           100%
                                          ==========  =============  ===========
Net sales (in thousands)..............     $376,226     $395,873       $428,722
                                          ==========  =============  ===========


         Our products are used in a variety of clinical settings such as
operating rooms, surgery centers, physicians' offices and critical care areas of
hospitals. We employ a razor/razor blade business model whereby we sell capital
equipment and the associated single-use disposable products. During 2001, we
derived approximately 75% of our revenues from single-use disposable products
and the remainder from capital equipment. We believe the sale of disposable
products provides a recurring revenue stream that helps insulate us from
temporary market downturns.

         We have used strategic business acquisitions to broaden our product
offerings, to increase our market share in certain product lines and to realize
economies of scale. Since 1997, we have completed six significant business
acquisitions. The completed acquisitions, together with internal growth, have
resulted in a compound annual growth rate in net sales of 32% between 1997 and
2001.

Industry

         The growth in the markets for our products is primarily driven by:

         Favorable Demographics. The number of surgical procedures performed is
increasing. This growth in surgical procedures reflects demographic trends, such
as the aging of the population, and technological advancements, such as safer
and less invasive surgical procedures. Sales of our surgical products
represented over 85% of our total 2001 sales.


         Continued Pressure to Reduce Health Care Costs. In response to rising
health care costs, managed care companies and other third-party payers have
placed pressures on health care providers to reduce costs. In turn, health care
providers are increasingly purchasing single-use, disposable products, which
reduce the costs associated with sterilizing surgical instruments and products
following surgery.

         Increased Global Medical Spending. We believe that foreign markets
offer growth opportunities for our products. We currently distribute our
products through our own sales subsidiaries or through local dealers in over 100
foreign countries. International sales represented approximately 29% of total
sales in 2001.

Competitive Strengths

         We believe that we have a top two or three market share position in
each of our five key product areas and have established our position as a market
leader by capitalizing on the following competitive strengths:

     o   Strong Brand Recognition. Our products are sold under leading brand
         names, including CONMED(R), Linvatec(R), and Hall Surgical(R). These
         brand names are well recognized by physicians for quality and service,
         and we believe that brand recognition helps drive demand for our
         products.

     o   Breadth of Product Offering. The breadth of our product lines in our
         key product areas enables us to meet a wide range of customer
         requirements and preferences. In three of our five key product areas,
         we are only one of two providers that offers a full line of products.

     o   Successful Integration of Acquisitions. Since 1997, we have completed
         six acquisitions, including the 1997 acquisition of Linvatec
         Corporation which more than doubled our size. Our management team,
         which averages more than 15 years of experience in the health care
         industry, has demonstrated a historical ability to identify
         complementary acquisitions and to integrate acquired companies into
         our operations.

     o   Extensive Marketing and Distribution Infrastructure. We market our
         products domestically through our sales force consisting of
         approximately 210 employee sales representatives and an additional 90
         sales professionals employed by eight non-stocking sales agent groups,
         seven of which are exclusive. Additionally, we have an international
         presence through sales subsidiaries and branches located in key
         international markets.The size and coverage of our distribution
         infrastructure assists in driving our sales.

     o   Vertically Integrated Manufacturing. We manufacture most of our
         products and components. Our vertically integrated manufacturing
         process has allowed us to provide quality products, to react quickly
         to changes in demand and to generate manufacturing efficiencies.

     o   Research and Development Expertise. Our research and development
         effort is focused on introducing new products, enhancing existing
         products and developing new technologies. During the last two years,
         we have introduced more than 24 products and product enhancements,
         many of which were "first-to-market" products.

Business Strategy

         Our business strategy is to continue to strengthen our position as a
market leader in our key product areas. The elements of our strategy include:

                                      -2-


     o   Introduce New Products and Product Enhancements. We will continue to
         pursue organic growth by developing new products and enhancing
         existing products to respond to customer needs and preferences.

     o   Pursue Strategic Acquisitions. We believe that strategic acquisitions
         represent a cost-effective means of broadening our product line. We
         have historically targeted companies with proven technologies and
         established brand names that provide potential sales, marketing and
         manufacturing synergies.

     o   Realize Manufacturing and Operating Efficiencies. We will continue to
         review opportunities for consolidating product lines and streamlining
         production. We believe our vertically integrated manufacturing
         processes can produce further opportunities to reduce overhead and to
         increase operating efficiencies and capacity utilization.

     o   Maintain Strong International Sales Growth. We intend to maintain our
         international sales growth and increase our penetration into
         international markets by utilizing our relationships with foreign
         surgeons, hospitals and third-party payers, as well as foreign
         distributors.


Recent Development

         Purchase and Cancellation of Warrant Issued to Bristol-Myers Squibb. In
1997, in connection with the acquisition of Linvatec, we issued to Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company a warrant exercisable in whole or in part for up to 1,500,000
shares of our common stock at a price of $22.82 per share. On April 30, 2002, we
agreed to purchase the warrant for $2 million in cash and upon its repurchase,
we intend to cancel it.



















                                      -3-



                                  The Offering

Common stock offered by us.......... 3,000,000 shares

Common stock outstanding
     after this offering............ 28,549,358 shares

Use of proceeds..................... We will use the estimated net proceeds of
                                     approximately $___ million that we will
                                     receive from this offering for the
                                     repayment of bank debt.  See "Use of
                                     Proceeds."

Nasdaq National Market symbol....... CNMD


         The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this
offering is based upon 25,549,358 shares of common stock that were outstanding
on March 29, 2002 and does not include the following:

         o        3,440,829 shares of common stock issuable based upon the
                  exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 29, 2002
                  under our stock option plans, of which 1,719,932 shares were
                  exercisable.

         o        450,000 shares of common stock issuable in this offering to
                  the underwriters pursuant to an over-allotment option.

         Our executive offices are located at 525 French Road, Utica, New York
13502-5994. Our telephone number is (315) 797-8375 and our internet address is
www.conmed.com. The information contained on our website is not part of this
prospectus.








                                      -4-




                             Summary Financial Data

         The information below sets forth summary financial data as of and for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 and the three
months ended March 31, 2001 and 2002. The data for the three years in the period
ended December 31, 2001 and as of December 31, 2000 and 2001 has been derived
from and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements, including the notes thereto, included in the prospectus beginning on
page F-1, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" herein. The information as of December 31, 1999 has been
derived from our audited financial statements not incorporated by reference or
included herein. The summary financial data for the three months ended March 31,
2001 and 2002 are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all
adjustments (comprising only normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair
presentation of our consolidated operating results and financial position for
such interim periods. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative
of results for the full year or for any other period. We have never paid any
cash dividends.



                                                                                   Three Months
                                                    Year Ended December 31,       Ended March 31,
                                                    -----------------------       ---------------
                                                 1999       2000       2001       2001       2002
                                                 ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
                                                  (in thousands, except per share and share data)
                                                                                        (unaudited)
                                                                              
Statement of Income Data (1):
Net sales ..................................   $376,226   $395,873   $428,722   $105,909   $113,205
Cost of sales (2) ..........................    178,480    188,223    204,374     49,674     54,104
Selling and administrative expense (3) (4) .    110,842    128,316    140,560     34,829     34,468
Research and development expense ...........     12,108     14,870     14,830      3,696      3,824
                                                 ------     ------     ------      -----      -----

   Income from operations ..................     74,796     64,464     68,958     17,710     20,809
Interest expense, net ......................     32,360     34,286     30,824      8,331      6,628
                                                 ------     ------     ------      -----      -----
   Income before income taxes
        and extraordinary item .............     42,436     30,178     38,134      9,379     14,181
Provision for income taxes .................     15,277     10,864     13,728      3,376      5,105
                                                 ------     ------     ------      -----      -----
    Net income .............................   $ 27,159   $ 19,314   $ 24,406   $  6,003   $  9,076
                                               ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

Earnings Per Share:
Basic ......................................   $   1.19   $   0.84   $   1.02   $   0.26   $   0.36
                                               --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
Diluted ....................................   $   1.17   $   0.83   $   1.00   $   0.26   $   0.35
                                               ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Used In Calculating:



Basic earnings per share ...................     22,862     22,967     24,045     23,057     25,397
                                               ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
Diluted earnings per share .................     23,145     23,271     24,401     23,307     25,969
                                               ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

Other Financial Data:
Depreciation and amortization                  $ 26,291   $ 29,487   $ 30,148   $  7,566   $  5,403
Capital expenditures .......................      9,352     14,050     14,443      3,867      3,208



                                                   (footnotes on following page)

                                      -5-





                                                      As of                      As of
                                                   December 31,                March 31,
                                                -------------------------      ---------
                                                1999      2000       2001        2002
                                                ----      ----       ----        ----
   Balance Sheet Data                                       (in thousands)
                                                                             (unaudited)
                                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents ...................$  3,747   $  3,470   $  1,402   $  2,634
Working capital ............................. 109,526    113,755     44,712     47,434
Total assets ................................ 662,161    679,571    701,608    706,950
Long-term debt (including current portion) .. 394,669    378,748    335,929    325,991
Total shareholders' equity .................. 211,261    230,603    283,634    295,211


-------------

(1)   Includes, based on the purchase method of accounting, the results of (i)
      the powered instrument product line acquired from 3M Company, from August
      1999; and (ii) the minimally invasive surgical product lines acquired from
      Imagyn Medical Technologies, Inc. in November 2000 and July 2001; in each
      such case from the date of acquisition.

(2)   Includes for 1999, $1,600,000 of incremental expense related to the excess
      of the fair value at the acquisition date over the cost to produce
      inventory related to the powered instrument product line acquired from 3M;
      and includes for 2001, $1,567,000 of transition expenses related to the
      July 2001 acquisition from Imagyn.

(3)   Included in selling and administrative expense for 1999 is a $1,256,000
      benefit related to a previously recorded litigation accrual which was
      settled on favorable terms. Included in selling and administrative expense
      for 2000 is a severance charge of $1,509,000 related to the restructuring
      of our arthroscopy sales force.

(4)   Effective January 1, 2002, the provisions of SAFS 142 were adopted
      relative to the cessation of amortization for goodwill and certain
      intangibles. Had we accounted for goodwill and certain intangibles in
      accordance with SAFS 142 for all periods presented, net income would have
      been $32,227 in 1999, $24,969 in 2000, $30,061 in 2001 and $7,416 in the
      three months ended March 31, 2001.





                                      -6-





                                  RISK FACTORS

         An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You
should carefully consider the following factors, in addition to the other
information contained in this prospectus, in deciding whether to invest in our
common stock. This prospectus and documents incorporated by reference herein
contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our
actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. See "Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements" below. Factors that might cause such differences include those
discussed below.

         Our financial performance is subject to the risk of business
acquisitions, including the effects of increased borrowing and the integration
of businesses. A key element of our business strategy has been to expand through
acquisitions and we may seek to pursue additional acquisitions in the future.
Our success is dependent in part upon our ability to integrate acquired
companies or product lines into our existing operations. We may not have
sufficient management and other resources to accomplish the integration of our
past and future acquisitions, and implementing our acquisition strategy may
strain our relationship with customers, suppliers, distributors, manufacturing
personnel or others. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify
and make acquisitions on acceptable terms or that we will be able to obtain
financing for such acquisitions on acceptable terms. In addition, while we are
generally entitled to customary indemnification from sellers of businesses for
any difficulties that may have arisen prior to our acquisition of each business,
acquisitions may involve exposure to unknown liabilities and the amount and time
for claiming under these indemnification provisions is often limited. As a
result, our financial performance is now and will continue to be subject to
various risks associated with the acquisition of businesses, including the
financial effects associated with any increased borrowing required to fund such
acquisitions or with the integration of such businesses.

         Failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in recalls,
fines or materially adverse implications. All of our products are classified as
medical devices subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. As a
manufacturer of medical devices, our manufacturing processes and facilities are
subject to on-site inspection and continuing review by the FDA for compliance
with the Quality System Regulations. Manufacturing and sales of our products
outside the United States are also subject to foreign regulatory requirements
that vary from country to country. The time required to obtain approvals from
foreign countries may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval,
and requirements for foreign approvals may differ from FDA requirements. Failure
to comply with applicable domestic and/or foreign requirements can result in:

         o        fines or other enforcement actions;

         o        recall or seizure of products;

         o        total or partial suspension of production;

         o        withdrawal of existing product approvals or clearances;

         o        refusal to approve or clear new applications or notices;

         o        increased quality control costs; or

         o        criminal prosecution.

         The failure to comply with Quality System Regulations and applicable
foreign regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition or results of operations.


                                      -7-


         If we are not able to manufacture products in compliance with
regulatory standards, we may decide to cease manufacture of those products and
may be subject to product recall. In addition to the Quality System Regulations,
many of our products are also subject to industry-set standards. We may not be
able to comply with these regulations and standards due to deficiencies in
component parts or our manufacturing processes. If we are not able to comply
with the Quality System Regulations or industry-set standards, we may not be
able to fill customer orders and we may decide to cease production of
non-compliant products. Failure to produce products could affect our profit
margins and could lead to loss of customers.

         Our products are subject to product recall and product recalls have
been made in the past. Although no recall has had a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition or results of operations, we cannot assure you
that regulatory issues will not have a material adverse effect in the future or
that product recall will not harm our reputation and our relationships with our
customers.

         The highly competitive market for our products may create adverse
pricing pressures. The market for our products is highly competitive and our
customers have numerous alternatives of supply. Many of our competitors offer a
range of products in areas other than those in which we compete, which may make
such competitors more attractive to surgeons, hospitals, group purchasing
organizations and others. In addition, many of our competitors are larger and
have greater financial resources than we do and offer a range of products
broader than our products. Competitive pricing pressures or the introduction of
new products by our competitors could have an adverse effect on our revenues.
Because our customers are not bound by long-term supply arrangements with us, we
may not be able to shift our production to other products following a loss of
customers to our competitors, leading to an accompanying adverse effect on our
profitability. See "Business -- Competition" for a further discussion of these
competitive forces.

         Factors that could lead our customers to choose products offered by our
competitors include:

         o        changes in surgeon preferences;

         o        increases or decreases in health care spending related to
                  medical devices;

         o        our inability to furnish products to them, such as a result of
                  product recall or back-order;

         o        the introduction by competitors of new products or new
                  features to existing products;

         o        the introduction by competitors of alternative surgical
                  technology; and

         o        advances in surgical procedures and discoveries or
                  developments in the health care industry.

         Cost reduction efforts in the health care industry could put pressures
on our prices and margins. In recent years, the health care industry has
undergone significant change driven by various efforts to reduce costs,
including efforts at national health care reform, trends toward managed care,
cuts in Medicare, consolidation of health care distribution companies and
collective purchasing arrangements by group purchasing organizations, or GPOs,
and integrated health networks, or IHNs. Demand and prices for our products may
be adversely affected by these trends.


                                      -8-



         We may not be able to keep pace with technological change or to
successfully develop new products with wide market acceptance, which could cause
us to lose business to competitors. The market for our products is characterized
by rapidly changing technology. Our future financial performance will in part be
dependent on our ability to develop and manufacture new products on a
cost-effective basis, to introduce them to the market on a timely basis, and to
have them accepted by surgeons.

         We may not be able to keep pace with technology or to develop viable
new products. Factors which could cause delay in releasing new products or even
cancellation of our plans to produce and market these new products include:

         o        research and development delays;

         o        delays in securing regulatory approvals; or

         o        changes in the competitive landscape, including the emergence
                  of alternative products or solutions which reduce or eliminate
                  the markets for pending products.

         Our new products may fail to achieve expected levels of market
acceptance. Any new products we launch may fail to achieve market acceptance.
The degree of market acceptance of any of our products will depend on a number
of factors, including:

         o        our ability to develop and introduce new products and product
                  enhancements in the time frames we currently estimate;

         o        our ability to successfully implement new technologies;

         o        the market's readiness to accept new products, such as our
                  PowerPro(R)Battery System;

         o        having adequate financial and technological resources for
                  future product development and promotion;

         o        the efficacy of our products; and

         o        the prices of our products compared to the prices of our
                  competitors' products.

         If our new products do not achieve market acceptance, we may be unable
to recoup our investments and may lose business to competitors.

         In addition, some of the companies with which we now compete or may
compete in the future have or may have more extensive research, marketing and
manufacturing capabilities and significantly greater technical and personnel
resources than we do, and may be better positioned to continue to improve their
technology in order to compete in an evolving industry. See
"Business--Competition" for a further discussion of these competitive forces.

         Our credit agreement contains covenants that may limit our flexibility
or prevent us from taking actions. Our credit agreement contains, and future
credit facilities are expected to contain, certain restrictive covenants which
will affect, and in many respects significantly limit or prohibit, among other
things, our ability to:

         o        incur indebtedness;

         o        make prepayments of certain indebtedness;


                                      -9-


         o        make investments;

         o        engage in transactions with affiliates;

         o        pay dividends;

         o        sell assets; and

         o        pursue acquisitions.

         These covenants may prevent us from pursuing acquisitions,
significantly limit our operating and financial flexibility and limit our
ability to respond to changes in our business or competitive activities. Our
ability to comply with such provisions may be affected by events beyond our
control. In the event of any default under our credit agreement, the credit
agreement lenders could elect to declare all amounts borrowed under our credit
agreement, together with accrued interest, to be due and payable. If we were
unable to repay such borrowings, the credit agreement lenders could proceed
against the collateral securing the credit agreement, which consists of
substantially all of our property and assets, except for our accounts receivable
and related rights which are sold in connection with the accounts receivable
sales agreement. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a
discussion of the accounts receivable sales agreement.

         Our substantial leverage and debt service requirements may force us to
adopt alternative business strategies. We have indebtedness that is substantial
in relation to our shareholders' equity, as well as interest and debt service
requirements that are significant compared to our cash flow from operations. On
a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of
this offering, as of March 31, 2002, we would have had $_____ million of debt
outstanding, representing ___% of total capitalization, and which does not
include the $40 million of receivables sold to a conduit purchaser under the
accounts receivable sales agreement described below under "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources", the proceeds of which were used to
repay indebtedness.

         The degree to which we are leveraged could have important consequences
to investors, including but not limited to the following:

         o        a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations must be
                  dedicated to debt service and will not be available for
                  operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends and
                  other purposes;

         o        our ability to renegotiate our revolving credit facility and
                  obtain additional financing in the future for working capital,
                  capital expenditures, acquisitions or general corporate
                  purposes may be limited or impaired, or may be at higher
                  interest rates;

         o        we may be at a competitive disadvantage when compared to
                  competitors that are less leveraged;

         o        we may be hindered in our ability to adjust rapidly to market
                  conditions;

         o        our degree of leverage could make us more vulnerable in the
                  event of a downturn in general economic conditions or other
                  adverse circumstances applicable to us; and




                                      -10-


         o        our interest expense could increase if interest rates in
                  general increase because some of our borrowings, including our
                  borrowings under our credit agreement, are and will continue
                  to be at variable rates of interest.

         We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service our
indebtedness, which could require us to reduce our expenditures, sell assets,
restructure our indebtedness or seek additional equity capital. Our ability to
satisfy our obligations will depend upon our future operating performance, which
will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and
other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We may not have sufficient
cash flow available to enable us to meet our obligations. If we are unable to
service our indebtedness, we will be forced to adopt an alternative strategy
that may include actions such as foregoing acquisitions, reducing or delaying
capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our
indebtedness or seeking additional equity capital. We can not assure you that
any of these strategies could be implemented on terms acceptable to us, if at
all. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a discussion of our
indebtedness and its implications.

         We may be unable to continue to sell our accounts receivable, which
could require us to seek alternative sources of financing. Under our receivables
agreement, there are certain statistical ratios which must be maintained
relating to the pool of receivables in order for us to continue selling to the
conduit purchaser and the conduit purchaser can cease its purchase of our
receivables. These ratios relate to sales dilution and losses on accounts
receivable. If new accounts receivable arising in the normal course of business
do not qualify for sale or the conduit purchaser otherwise ceases its purchase
of our receivables, we would need to access alternate sources of working
capital, which could be more expensive or difficult to obtain.

         We may be unable to successfully renegotiate our credit facility on
terms we deem acceptable. Our $100 million revolving credit facility terminates
on December 31, 2002. We are currently negotiating with our bank group to extend
the revolving credit facility, or in the alternative, to renegotiate our entire
senior credit facility. We may be unable to obtain credit arrangements on terms
we deem acceptable. If we are unable to successfully negotiate a new senior
credit arrangement that provides sufficient capital for our business, we could
be forced to sell assets, alter our business strategy or obtain alternative
sources of financing.

         The loss or invalidity of our patents may reduce our competitive
advantage. Much of the technology used in the markets in which we compete is
covered by patents. We have numerous U.S. patents and corresponding foreign
patents on products expiring at various dates from 2002 through 2019 and have
additional patent applications pending. See "Business -- Research and
Development Activities" for a further description of our patents. The loss of
our patents could reduce the value of the related products and any related
competitive advantage. Competitors may also be able to design around our patents
and to compete effectively with our products. Also, our competitors may allege
that our products infringe their patents, leading to voluntary or involuntary
loss of sales from those products. In addition, the cost to prosecute
infringements of our patents or the cost to defend our products against patent
infringement actions by others could be substantial. We cannot assure you that:

         o        pending patent applications will result in issued patents,

         o        patents issued to or licensed by us will not be challenged by
                  competitors,

         o        our patents will be found to be valid or sufficiently broad to
                  protect our technology or provide us with a competitive
                  advantage, or


                                      -11-



         o        we will be successful in defending against pending or future
                  patent infringement claims asserted against our products.

         Ordering patterns of our customers may change resulting in reductions
in sales. Our hospital and surgery center customers purchase our products in
quantities sufficient to meet their anticipated demand. Likewise, our
health care distributor customers purchase our products for ultimate resale to
health care providers in quantities sufficient to meet the anticipated
requirements of the distributors' customers. Should inventories of our products
owned by our hospital, surgery center and distributor customers grow to levels
higher than their requirements, our customers may reduce the ordering of
products from us. This could cause a reduction in our sales in a financial
accounting period.

         Our significant international operations subject us to risks associated
with operating in foreign countries. A portion of our operations are conducted
outside the United States. About 29% of our 2001 net sales constituted foreign
sales. As a result of our international operations, we are subject to risks
associated with operating in foreign countries, including:

         o        devaluations and fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

         o        imposition of limitations on conversions of foreign currencies
                  into dollars or remittance of dividends and other payments by
                  foreign subsidiaries;

         o        imposition or increase of withholding and other taxes on
                  remittances and other payments by foreign subsidiaries;

         o        trade barriers;

         o        political risks, including political instability;

         o        reliance on third parties to distribute our products;

         o        hyperinflation in certain foreign countries; and

         o        imposition or increase of investment and other restrictions by
                  foreign governments.

         We cannot assure you that such risks will not have a material adverse
effect on our business and results of operations.

         We can be sued for producing defective products and our insurance
coverage may be insufficient to cover the nature and amount of any product
liability claims. The nature of our products as medical devices and today's
litigious environment should be regarded as potential risks that could
significantly and adversely affect our financial condition and results of
operations. The insurance we maintain to protect against claims associated with
the use of our products may not adequately cover the amount or nature of any
claim asserted against us and we are exposed to the risk that our claims may be
excluded and that our insurers may become insolvent. See "Item 3: Legal
Proceedings" in our Form 10-K for a further discussion of the risk of product
liability actions and our insurance coverage.




                                      -12-






                         CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING
                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS


Forward-Looking Statements Made in this Prospectus

         In this prospectus, we make forward-looking statements about our
financial condition, results of operations and business. Forward-looking
statements are statements made by us concerning events that may or may not occur
in the future. These statements may be made directly in this document or may be
"incorporated by reference" from other documents. You can find many of these
statements by looking for words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates,"
"estimates" or similar expressions.

Forward-Looking Statements are not Guarantees of Future Performance

         Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, including those that may cause our actual
results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include those
identified under "Risk Factors" above and those set forth elsewhere and
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, among others, including the
following:

     o    general economic and business conditions;

     o    changes in customer preferences;

     o    changes in technology;

     o    the introduction of new products;

     o    changes in business strategy;

     o    the possibility that United States or foreign regulatory and/or
          administrative agencies might initiate enforcement actions against us
          or our distributors;

     o    quality of our management and business abilities and the judgment of
          our personnel; and

     o    the availability, terms and deployment of capital.

         See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" and "Business" below for a further discussion of these
factors. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We do not undertake any
obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements
to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.





                                      -13-






                         PRICE RANGE OF OUR COMMON STOCK

         Our common stock, par value $.01 per share, is traded on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol "CNMD". At March 29, 2002, there were 1,213
registered holders of our common stock and approximately 6,100 accounts held in
"street name."

         The following table shows certain high-low last sales prices for our
common stock, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market. These sales prices have
been adjusted for a three-for-two split of our common stock effected in the form
of a common stock dividend and paid on September 7, 2001 to shareholders of
record on August 21, 2001.



                                                            Common Stock Price
                                                    ------------------------------
        Year Ended December 31, 2000:                    High          Low
                                                    --------------- --------------
                                                               

        First Quarter.............................      $20.50         $15.04
        Second Quarter............................       18.37          15.75
        Third Quarter.............................       17.41           8.08
        Fourth Quarter............................       12.04           8.62

                                                    ------------------------------
        Year Ended December 31, 2001:                    High          Low
                                                    --------------- --------------
        First Quarter.............................      $15.92         $10.83
        Second Quarter............................       18.00          13.08
        Third Quarter.............................       21.21          15.73
        Fourth Quarter............................       21.01          16.53

                                                    ------------------------------
        Year Ended December 31, 2002:                    High          Low
                                                    --------------- --------------
        First Quarter.............................      $25.00          $19.29
        Second Quarter (through April 29, 2002)...      $26.08          $24.11


         On April 29, 2002, the last sale price for the common stock on the
Nasdaq National Market was $25.49.

                                 DIVIDEND POLICY

         We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. Our board of
directors presently intends to retain future earnings to finance the development
of our business and does not intend to declare cash dividends. Should this
policy change, the declaration of dividends will be determined by our board in
light of conditions then existing, including our financial requirements and
condition and the limitation on the declaration and payment of cash dividends
contained in debt agreements.



                                      -14-




                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         The net proceeds from this offering, after payment of our fees and
expenses incurred in connection with this offering, are estimated to be
approximately $_______ million (assuming the underwriters' over-allotment option
is not exercised). We will use the net proceeds from this offering to repay
outstanding debt under our credit agreement.

         The borrowings under our credit agreement, of which $172.8 million was
outstanding as of March 31, 2002, include a term portion that bears interest at
a weighted average of LIBOR plus 2.13% (4.20% at March 31, 2002) and a revolving
portion that bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.50% (3.70% at March 31, 2002).

























                                      -15-




                                 CAPITALIZATION

         The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization as of
March 31, 2002, and as adjusted to give pro forma effect to our sale of
3,000,000 shares of our common stock offered hereby at an assumed offering price
of $__ per share and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described
under "Use of Proceeds":



                                                                                 March 31, 2002
                                                                           -----------------------------
                                                                            Actual         As Adjusted
                                                                           ----------     --------------
                                                                                 (in thousands)
                                                                                   
Current portion of long-term debt(1) ....................................   $  73,914    $  73,914

Long-term debt (less current portion)(1) ................................   $ 252,077    $
Shareholders' equity:
         Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share;
              authorized 500,000 shares; none outstanding ...............           -            -
         Common stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized 100,000,000
              shares; outstanding 25,549,358 shares actual and 28,549,358
              shares as adjusted ........................................         255          285
         Paid-in capital ................................................     162,740
         Retained earnings ..............................................     137,316      137,316
         Accumulated and other comprehensive loss .......................      (4,681)      (4,681)
         Less 37,500 shares of common stock
              in treasury, at cost ......................................        (419)        (419)
                                                                            ---------      ---------
              Total shareholders' equity ................................     295,211
                                                                            ---------      ---------
                  Total capitalization ..................................   $ 547,288      $
                                                                            =========      =========

-----------------
(1)      Because the revolving commitment under our credit agreement terminates
         on December 31, 2002, the entire amount borrowed under our revolver is
         classified as short term.



                                      -16-




                             SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

         The information below sets forth selected financial data as of and for
each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2001 and the three
months ended March 31, 2001 and 2002. The data for the three years in the period
ended December 31, 2001 and as of December 31, 2000 and 2001 has been derived
from and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements, including the notes thereto, included in this prospectus beginning
on page F-1, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" herein. The information for the years ended December
31, 1997 and 1998 and as of December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 has been derived
from our audited financial statements not incorporated by reference or included
herein. The selected financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2001
and 2002 are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all
adjustments (comprising only normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair
presentation of our consolidated operating results and financial position for
such interim periods. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative
of results for the full year or for any other period. We have never paid any
cash dividends.



                                                                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                 Year Ended December 31,                                   March 31,
                                    ---------------------------------------------------------         ------------------
                                    1997         1998         1999         2000          2001          2001         2002
                                    ----         ----         ----         ----          ----          ----         ----
                                                    (in thousands, except per share and share data)
                                                                                                         (unaudited)
Statements of Income (Loss)
Data (1):
                                                                                           
Net sales.....................    $139,632     $339,270     $376,226     $395,873     $428,722      $105,909     $113,205
Cost of sales (2)............       74,220      169,599      178,480      188,223      204,374        49,674       54,104
Selling and administrative
   expense (3) (4)............      36,661       96,475      110,842      128,316      140,560        34,829       34,468
Research and development
   expense....................       3,037       12,029       12,108       14,870       14,830         3,696        3,824
Unusual items (3).............      37,242            -            -            -            -             -            -
                                  --------     --------     --------      -------      -------       -------      -------
    Income (loss) from
      operations..............    (11,528)       61,167       74,796       64,464       68,958        17,710       20,809
Interest income (expense), net         823     (30,891)     (32,360)    (34,286 )     (30,824)       (8,331)      (6,628)
                                  --------     --------     --------      -------      -------       -------      -------
    Income (loss) before
      income taxes and
      extraordinary item.....     (10,705)       30,276       42,436       30,178       38,134         9,379       14,181
Provision (benefit) for
   income taxes...............     (3,640)       10,899       15,277       10,864       13,728         3,376        5,105
                                  --------     --------     --------      -------      -------       -------      -------
    Income (loss) before
      extraordinary item......     (7,065)       19,377       27,159       19,314       24,406         6,003        9,076
Extraordinary item, net of
   income taxes (5)...........           -      (1,569)            -            -            -             -            -
                                  --------     --------     --------      -------      -------       -------      -------
   Net income (loss)..........    $(7,065)      $17,808      $27,159      $19,314      $24,406        $6,003       $9,076
                                  ========     ========     ========      =======      =======       =======      =======


Earnings (Loss) Per Share Before Extraordinary Item:


Basic ........................    $ (0.31)       $ 0.86       $ 1.19       $ 0.84       $ 1.02         $0.26        $0.36
                                  ========     ========     ========      =======      =======       =======      =======
Diluted.......................    $ (0.31)       $ 0.84       $ 1.17       $ 0.83       $ 1.00         $0.26        $0.35
                                  ========     ========     ========      =======      =======       =======      =======
Earnings (Loss) Per Share:
Basic.........................    $ (0.31)       $ 0.79       $ 1.19       $ 0.84       $ 1.02         $0.26        $0.36
                                  ========     ========     ========      =======      =======       =======      =======
Diluted.......................    $ (0.31)       $ 0.77       $ 1.17       $ 0.83       $ 1.00         $0.26        $0.35
                                  ========     ========     ========      =======      =======       =======      =======


                                      -17-




                                                                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                 Year Ended December 31,                                   March 31,
                                    ---------------------------------------------------------         ------------------
                                    1997         1998         1999         2000          2001          2001         2002
                                    ----         ----         ----         ----          ----          ----         ----
                                                    (in thousands, except per share and share data)
                                                                                                         (unaudited)
                                                                                            (footnotes on following page)
                                                                                             
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares In Calculating:
Basic earnings (loss) per
   share......................      22,496       22,628       22,862       22,967       24,045        23,057       25,397
                                  ========     ========     ========      =======      =======       =======      =======
Diluted earnings (loss) per
   share......................      22,496       22,982       23,145       23,271       24,401        23,307       25,969
                                  ========     ========     ========      =======      =======       =======      =======
Other Financial Data:
Depreciation and amortization.      $6,954     $ 23,601     $ 26,291     $ 29,487     $ 30,148        $7,566       $5,403
Capital expenditures..........       8,178       12,924        9,352       14,050       14,443         3,867        3,208




                                                        December 31,                            March 31,
                                     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1997        1998         1999         2000         2001         2002
                                     ----        ----         ----         ----         ----         ----
                                                             (in thousands)
                                                                                               (unaudited)
                                                                                  
Balance Sheet Data (6):
Cash and cash equivalents.....    $ 13,452      $ 5,906      $ 3,747      $ 3,470      $ 1,402       $ 2,634
Working capital...............      95,333       93,424      109,526      113,755       44,712        47,434
Total assets..................     561,637      628,784      662,161      679,571      701,608       706,950
Long-term debt (including
   current portion)...........     365,000      384,872      394,669      378,748      335,929       325,991
Total shareholders' equity ...     162,736      182,168      211,261      230,603      283,634       295,211

_____________

(1)   Includes, based on the purchase method of accounting, the results of (i)
      the surgical suction product line acquired from the Davol subsidiary of
      C.R. Bard, Inc., from July 1997; (ii) Linvatec Corporation acquired from
      Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, from December 1997; (iii) the arthroscopy
      product line acquired from 3M Company, from November 1998; (iv) the
      powered instrument product line acquired from 3M Company, from August
      1999; and (v) the minimally invasive surgical product lines acquired from
      Imagyn Medical Technologies, Inc. in November 2000 and July 2001, in each
      such case from the date of acquisition.

(2)   Includes for 1998, $3,000,000 of incremental expense related to the excess
      of the fair value at the acquisition date of Linvatec inventory over the
      cost to produce; includes for 1999, $1,600,000 of incremental expense
      related to the excess of the fair value at the acquisition date over the
      cost to produce inventory related to the powered instrument product line
      acquired from 3M; and includes for 2001, $1,567,000 of transition expenses
      related to the July 2001 acquisition from Imagyn.

(3)  Included in unusual items for 1997 are a $34,000,000 non-cash acquisition
     charge for the write-off of all of the in-process research and development
     products (comprised of products in the development stage) acquired in the
     Linvatec acquisition, a $914,000 write-off of deferred financing fees
     resulting from refinancing our loan agreements in connection with the
     Linvatec acquisition, and a $2,328,000 charge for the closing of our
     Dayton, Ohio manufacturing facility. Included in selling and administrative
     expense for 1999 is a $1,256,000 benefit related to a previously recorded
     litigation accrual which was settled on favorable terms. Included in
     selling and administrative expense for 2000 is a severance charge of
     $1,509,000 related to the restructuring of the Company's arthroscopy sales
     force.

(4)   Effective January 1, 2002, the provisions of SFAS 142 relative
      to the cessation of amortization for goodwill and certain intangibles.
      Had we accounted for goodwill and certain intangibles in accordance with
      SAFS 142 for all periods presented, income (loss) before extraordinary
      item would have been $(5,502) in 1997, $24,011 in 1998, $32,227 in 1999,
      $24,969 in 2000, $30,061 in 2001 and $7,416 in the three months ended
      March 31,2001. Had we accounted for goodwill and certain intangibles in
      accordance with SAFS 142 for all periods presented, netincome (loss)
      would have been $(5,502) in 1997, $24,011 in 1998, $32,227 in 1999,
      $24,969 in 2000, $30,061 in 2001 and $7,416 in the three months ended
      March 31,2001.


(5)  In March 1998, we recorded an extraordinary item of $1,569,000 net of
     income taxes related to the write-off of deferred financing fees.


                                      -18-



(6)  Linvatec is included in the Balance Sheet Data as of December 31, 1997, its
     date of acquisition, after a one-time non-cash acquisition charge of
     $34,000,000.






































                                      -19-





                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

         The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our
"Selected Financial Data" and our consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies

         The accounting policies discussed below are considered by management to
be critical to understanding our financial condition and results of operations.

         Accounts receivable sale

         On November 1, 2001, we entered into a five-year accounts receivable
sales agreement pursuant to which we and certain of our subsidiaries sell on an
ongoing basis certain accounts receivable to CONMED Receivables Corporation, or
CRC, our wholly-owned special-purpose subsidiary. CRC may in turn sell up to an
aggregate $50.0 million undivided percentage ownership interest in such
receivables to a commercial paper conduit (the "conduit purchaser"). For
receivables that have been sold, we retain collection and administrative
responsibilities as agent for the conduit purchaser. As of March 31, 2002, the
undivided percentage ownership interest in receivables sold by CRC to the
conduit purchaser aggregated $40.0 million, which has been accounted for as a
sale and reflected in the balance sheet as a reduction in accounts receivable.
We used the initial $40.0 million in proceeds from the sale of accounts
receivable in November 2001 to repay a portion of our term loans under our
credit agreement described in Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements.
Expenses associated with the sale of accounts receivable, including the conduit
purchaser's financing cost of issuing commercial paper, were $0.3 million in the
quarter ended March 31, 2002.

         There are certain statistical ratios, primarily related to sales
dilution and losses on accounts receivable, which must be calculated and
maintained on the pool of receivables in order to continue selling to the
conduit purchaser. Management believes that additional accounts receivable
arising in the normal course of business will be of sufficient quality and
quantity to qualify for sale under the accounts receivable sales agreement. In
the event that new accounts receivable arising in the normal course of business
do not qualify for sale, then collections on sold receivables will flow to the
conduit purchaser rather than being used to fund new receivable purchases. If
this were to occur, we would need to access an alternate source of working
capital.

         Goodwill and other intangible assets

         Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of
identifiable net assets of acquired businesses. Other intangible assets
primarily represent allocations of purchase price to identifiable intangible
assets of acquired businesses. Goodwill and other intangible assets have been
amortized over periods ranging from 5 to 40 years. Because of our history of
growth through acquisitions, goodwill and other intangible assets comprise a
substantial portion (62.4% at March 31, 2002) of our total assets.

         In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board approved
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 "Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets", or SFAS 142. We adopted SFAS 142 effective January 1, 2002.
Under this standard, amortization of goodwill and certain intangible assets,
including certain intangibles recorded as a result of past business
combinations, is to be discontinued upon adoption of SFAS 142. In addition, in
accordance with the transition provisions of


                                      -20-


SFAS 142, goodwill recorded as a result of our acquisition of certain product
lines from Imagyn Medical Technologies, Inc. in July 2001 (the "second Imagyn
acquisition") has not been amortized.

         During the quarter ended March 31, 2002, we performed tests of goodwill
and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of January 1, 2002. We tested for
impairment using the two-step process prescribed in SFAS 142. The first step is
a screen for potential impairment. The second step, which has been determined
not to be necessary, measures the amount of any impairment. No impairment losses
have been recognized as a result of these tests. During the quarter ended March
31, 2002, net income increased by approximately $1.4 million or $.05 per share
as a result of the adoption of SFAS 142.

         Derivative financial instruments

         Effective January 1, 2001, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,
or SFAS 133. SFAS 133 requires that derivatives be recorded on the balance sheet
as assets or liabilities, measured at fair value. Gains or losses resulting from
the changes in the values of the derivatives are accounted for depending on
whether the derivative qualifies for hedge accounting. Upon adoption of SFAS
133, we recorded a net-of-tax cumulative-effect-type loss adjustment of $l.0
million in accumulated other comprehensive income to recognize at fair value an
interest rate swap which we have designated as a cash-flow hedge and which
effectively converts $50.0 million of LIBOR-based floating rate debt under our
credit agreement into fixed rate debt with a base interest rate of 7.01%. During
the quarter ended March 31, 2002, gross holding gains were $0.1 million, before
income taxes, while holding losses of $0.6 million, before income taxes, were
reclassified and included in net income. Including the cumulative effect loss
adjustment related to the adoption of SFAS 133, total gross holding losses
during 2001 related to the interest rate swap aggregated $4.4 million before
income taxes, of which $1.3 million, before income taxes, has been reclassified
and included in net income.

         Revenue recognition

         Revenue is recognized when title to the goods and risk of loss pass to
our customers. Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling
costs are included in net sales. We assess the risk of loss on accounts
receivable and adjust the allowance for doubtful accounts based on this risk
assessment. Historically, losses on accounts receivable have not been material.
Management believes the allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.5 million at March
31, 2002 is adequate to provide for any potential losses from accounts
receivable.

Results of Operations

Three months ended March 31, 2002 compared to three months ended March 31, 2001

         The following table presents, as a percentage of net sales, certain
categories included in our unaudited consolidated statements of income for the
periods indicated:




                                                Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                    2001          2002
                                                 -----------  ----------
                                                        (unaudited)
                                                         
Net sales......................................    100.0%       100.0%
Cost of sales..................................     46.9         47.8
                                                 -----------  ----------
     Gross margin..............................     53.1         52.2


                                      -21-


                                                         

Selling and administrative expense.............     32.9         30.4
Research and development expense...............      3.5          3.4
                                                 -----------  ----------
     Income from operations....................     16.7         18.4
Interest expense, net..........................      7.8          5.9
                                                 -----------  ----------
     Income before income taxes................      8.9         12.5
Provision for income taxes.....................      3.2          4.5
                                                 -----------  ----------
     Net income................................      5.7%         8.0%
                                                 ===========  ==========


         Sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 were $113.2 million, an
increase of 6.9% compared to sales of $105.9 million in the same quarter a year
ago. Excluding the effects of the second Imagyn acquisition, sales would have
grown by approximately 1.0%. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates in
the first quarter of 2002 as compared to the same period a year ago did not have
a significant effect on sales.

          o    Sales in our orthopedic businesses decreased 1.6% to $69.7
               million from $70.8 million in the comparable quarter last year.

               o    Arthroscopy sales, which represented approximately 59.3% of
                    total first quarter of 2002 orthopedic revenues, grew 2.7%
                    to $41.3 million from $40.2 million in the same period a
                    year ago on strength in sales of disposable products and
                    video equipment.

               o    Powered surgical instrument sales, which represented
                    approximately 40.7% of orthopedic revenues, decreased 7.2%
                    to $28.4 million in the first quarter of 2002 from $30.6
                    million in the same quarter last year, which was a record
                    quarter for powered surgical instrument sales. In the last
                    three quarters of 2001, powered surgical instrument sales
                    averaged $27.9 million per quarter. We introduced our
                    PowerPro(R) battery powered instrument product line in
                    February 2002, replacing older versions of battery powered
                    instruments. First shipments of this new product line
                    occurred in March 2002.

     o    Patient care sales for the three months ended March 31, 2002 were
          $17.3 million, a 1.7% decline from $17.6 million in the same period a
          year ago, driven primarily by declines in sales of our surgical
          suction product lines as a result of significant competition and
          pricing pressures. Sales of ECG and other patient care products were
          largely stable in the first quarter of 2002 as compared with the same
          period a year ago.

     o    Electrosurgery sales for the three months ended March 31, 2002 were
          $16.8 million, an increase of 12.0% from $15.0 million in the first
          quarter of last year, driven by strong increases in disposable
          electrosurgical pencil and ground pad sales.

     o    Sales of endoscopy products increased to $9.4 million in the three
          months ended March 31, 2002 from $2.5 million in the same period a
          year ago, primarily as a result of the second Imagyn acquisition.
          Sales of the Imagyn product lines contributed approximately $6.5
          million in sales in the quarter ended March 31, 2002. Excluding the
          impact of the second Imagyn acquisition, endoscopy sales increased
          approximately 16.0%. In July 2001, concurrent with the second Imagyn
          acquisition, we created a separate sales force focused on selling
          endoscopy products. Previously, endoscopy products were sold through
          the electrosurgery sales force. We believe the continued strong sales
          growth we have





                                      -22-



          experienced in the endoscopy product lines was enhanced by the focus
          provided by a separate, dedicated sales force.

         Cost of sales increased to $54.1 million in the first quarter of 2002
as compared to $49.7 million in the same quarter a year ago as a result of the
increased sales described above, while gross margin percentage declined slightly
to 52.2% in the first quarter of 2002 compared to 53.1% in the first quarter of
2001, primarily as a result of decreased sales of powered surgical instruments
which carry higher gross margins than certain of our other product lines.

         Selling and administrative expenses decreased to $34.5 million in the
first quarter of 2002 as compared to $34.8 million in the first quarter of 2001.
As a percentage of sales, selling and administrative expenses totaled 30.4% in
the first quarter of 2002 compared to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2001. During
the quarter ended March 31, 2002, selling and administrative expenses decreased
by approximately $2.2 million as a result of the adoption of SFAS 142. Excluding
the impact of the adoption of SFAS 142, selling and administrative expenses in
the first quarter of 2002 would have been approximately $36.7 million or 32.4%
as a percentage of sales, declining slightly when compared with the same period
a year ago, as a result of the increase in sales.

         Research and development expense increased to $3.8 million in the first
quarter of 2002 as compared to $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2001. This
increase represents continued research and development efforts primarily focused
on new product development in the orthopedic product lines. As a percentage of
sales, research and development expense decreased to 3.4% in the first quarter
compared to 3.5% in the same quarter a year ago as a result of higher sales
levels.

         Interest expense in the first quarter of 2002 was $6.6 million compared
to $8.3 million in the first quarter of 2001. The decrease in interest expense
is a result of lower total borrowings during the first quarter as compared to
the same period a year ago, as well as lower weighted average interest rates on
the term loans and revolving credit facility under our credit agreement which
have declined to 4.20% and 3.70%, respectively, at March 31, 2002 as compared to
7.94% and 8.14%, respectively, at March 31, 2001.

         2001 Compared to 2000

         The following table presents, as a percentage of net sales, certain
categories included in our consolidated statements of income for the periods
indicated:



                                                        Year Ended December 31,
                                                          2000            2001
                                                       -----------   -----------
                                                                  
Net sales...........................................    100.0%           100.0%
Cost of sales.......................................     47.5             47.7
                                                       -----------   -----------
   Gross margin.....................................     52.5             52.3
Selling and administrative expense..................     32.4             32.8
Research and development expense....................      3.8              3.5
                                                       -----------   -----------
   Income from operations...........................     16.3             16.0
Interest expense, net...............................      8.7              7.2
                                                       -----------   -----------
   Income before income taxes.......................      7.6              8.8
Provision for income taxes..........................      2.7              3.1
                                                       -----------   -----------
   Net income.......................................      4.9%             5.7%
                                                      ============   ===========



                                      -23-


         Sales for 2001 were $428.7 million, an increase of 8.3% compared to
sales of $395.9 million in 2000. Excluding our acquisition of certain product
lines from Imagyn in November 2000 (the "Imagyn acquisition") and July 2001, and
adjusting for constant foreign currency exchange rates, sales would have grown
by approximately 5.2 %.

     o    Sales in our orthopedic businesses grew 4.3% to $269.9 million in 2001
          from $258.8 million from 2000.

          o    Arthroscopy sales, which represented approximately 57.7% of total
               2001 orthopedic revenues, grew 7.2% in 2001 to $155.6 million
               from $145.1 million in 2000, on strength in sales of disposable
               products and video equipment.

          o    Powered surgical instrument sales, which represented
               approximately 42.3% of total 2001 orthopedic revenues, grew 1.0%
               to $114.3 million in 2001 from $113.7 million in 2000. We believe
               the weakness in sales in the powered surgical instrument product
               line was a result of our aging battery-powered product offering
               which has been replaced by our new PowerPro(R) battery-powered
               instrument product line, as we describe above. Adjusted for
               constant foreign currency exchange rates, orthopedic sales growth
               in 2001 would have been approximately 5.5% compared with 2000, as
               the value of the Canadian dollar and certain European currencies
               weakened in comparison with the dollar.

     o    Patient care sales for 2001 were $69.1 million, a 1.3% increase from
          $68.2 million in 2000, as modest increases in sales of our ECG and
          other patient care product lines more than offset declines in sales of
          surgical suction product lines which occurred as a result of
          significant competition and pricing pressures.

     o    Electrosurgery sales for 2001 were $66.9 million, an increase of 7.0%
          from $62.5 million in 2000, driven by increases in electrosurgical
          pencil and other disposable product sales.

     o    Endoscopy sales for 2001 were $22.8 million, an increase of 256% from
          $6.4 million in 2000. Excluding the impact of the Imagyn acquisitions
          in November 2000 and July 2001, as described in Note 2 to our
          consolidated financial statements, the increase in endoscopy sales was
          approximately 13.0%.

         Cost of sales increased to $204.4 million in 2001 compared to $188.2
million in 2000, primarily as a result of the increased sales volumes described
above. As discussed in Notes 2 and 11 to our consolidated financial statements,
during 2001, we incurred various non-recurring charges in connection with the
July 2001 Imagyn acquisition. These costs were primarily related to the
transition in manufacturing of the Imagyn product lines from Imagyn's Richland,
Michigan facility to our manufacturing plants in Utica, New York. Such costs
totaled approximately $1.6 million and are included in cost of sales. Excluding
the impact of these nonrecurring expenses, cost of sales for 2001 was $202.8
million. Gross margin percentage for 2001, excluding the Imagyn-related charges,
was 52.7%, a slight improvement as a result of increased sales volumes, compared
with 52.5% in 2000. Including the Imagyn-related charges, gross margin
percentage for 2001 was 52.3%.

         Selling and administrative expenses increased to $140.6 million in 2001
as compared to $128.3 million in 2000. As a percentage of sales, selling and
administrative expenses totaled 32.8% in 2001 compared to 32.4% in 2000.
Excluding a non-recurring severance charge of $1.5 million recorded in 2000
related to the restructuring of our orthopedic direct sales force, as described
in Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements, selling and administrative
expenses as a percentage




                                      -24-


of sales were 32.0% in 2000. This restructuring involved replacing our
orthopedic direct sales force with non-stocking exclusive sales agent groups in
certain geographic regions of the United States. This plan resulted in greater
sales force coverage in the affected geographic regions. The increase in selling
and administrative expense in 2001 as compared to 2000 is a result of higher
commission and other costs in 2001 as compared to 2000 associated with the
change to exclusive sales agent groups as well as increased spending on sales
and marketing programs.

         Research and development expense totaled $14.8 million in 2001,
consistent with $14.9 million in 2000. As a percentage of sales, research and
development expense decreased to 3.5% in 2001 compared to 3.8% in 2000, as a
result of higher sales levels. Our research and development efforts are focused
primarily on new product development in the orthopedic product lines.

         Interest expense in 2001 was $30.8 million compared to $34.3 million in
2000. The decrease in interest expense is primarily a result of lower weighted
average interest rates on the term loans and revolving credit facility under our
credit agreement, as described in Note 5 to our consolidated financial
statements, which have declined, to 4.43% and 3.93%, respectively, at December
31, 2001 as compared to 8.73% and 9.06%, respectively, at December 31, 2000
resulting in decreased interest expense.

         2000 Compared to 1999

         The following table presents, as a percentage of net sales, certain
categories included in our consolidated statements of income for the periods
indicated:



                                                      Year Ended December 31,
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                      1999              2000
                                                    ------------  -------------
                                                                
Net sales........................................... 100.0%            100.0%
Cost of sales.......................................  47.4              47.5
                                                    ------------  -------------
   Gross margin.....................................  52.6              52.5
Selling and administrative expense..................  29.5              32.4
Research and development expense....................   3.2               3.8
                                                    -----------   -------------
   Income from operations...........................  19.9              16.3
Interest expense, net...............................   8.6               8.7
                                                    -----------   -------------
   Income before income taxes.......................  11.3               7.6
Provision for income taxes..........................   4.1               2.7
                                                    -----------   -------------
   Net income.......................................   7.2%              4.9%
                                                    ===========   =============


         Sales for 2000 were $395.9 million, an increase of 5.2% compared to
sales of $376.2 million in 1999. Excluding our acquisitions of a powered
instrument line from 3M Company in August 1999, certain product lines from
Imagyn in November 2000 and adjusting for constant foreign currency exchange
rates, sales would have grown by approximately 1.3%.

     o    Sales in our orthopedic businesses grew 12.0% to $258.8 million in
          2000 from $231.0 million in 1999.

          o    Arthroscopy sales, which represented approximately 56.1% of total
               2000 orthopedic revenues, grew 1.0% to $145.1 million in 2000
               from $144.1 million in 1999, as increases in sales of video
               equipment more than offset slight declines in sales of disposable
               products.



                                      -25-

          o    Powered surgical instrument sales, which represented
               approximately 43.9% of total 2000 orthopedic revenues, grew 30.8%
               to $113.7 million in 2000 from $86.9 million in 1999. Excluding
               the impact of the acquisition of the powered surgical instrument
               business from 3M Company in August 1999, as described in Note 2
               to our consolidated financial statements, the increase in powered
               surgical instrument sales in 2000 compared to 1999 was
               approximately 12.1%. Adjusted for constant foreign currency
               exchange rates, orthopedic sales growth in 2000 would have been
               approximately 13.4% compared with 1999 as the value of the
               Canadian dollar and certain European currencies weakened in
               comparison with the dollar.

     o    Patient care sales for 2000 were $68.2 million, a 12.6% decrease from
          $78.0 million in 1999, reflecting declines in sales of our ECG and
          surgical suction product lines as a result of increased competition
          and pricing pressure.

     o    Electrosurgery sales for 2000 were $62.5 million, consistent with the
          $62.4 million in 1999, reflecting generally flat generator and
          disposable product sales.

     o    Endoscopy sales for 2000 were $6.4 million, an increase of 33.3% from
          $4.8 million in 1999. Excluding the impact of the November 2000 Imagyn
          acquisition, as described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial
          statements, the increase in endoscopy sales in 2000 was approximately
          20.8%.

         Cost of sales increased to $188.2 million in 2000 compared to $178.5
million in 1999. Gross margin percentage for 2000 was 52.5%. In connection with
the August 1999 acquisition of the powered surgical instrument business from 3M
Company, as described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements, we
increased the acquired value of inventory by $1.6 million; this inventory was
sold in 1999 and served to increase cost of sales by $1.6 million. Excluding the
impact of this non-recurring purchase accounting adjustment, cost of sales was
$176.9 million in 1999 and gross margin percentage for 1999 was 52.9%. The
slight decline in gross margin percentage in 2000 as compared to 1999 is
primarily a result of the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rate
fluctuations discussed above. Excluding the negative impact of foreign currency
exchange rate fluctuations, gross margin percentage in 2000 would have been
52.8%.

         Selling and administrative costs increased to $128.3 million in 2000 as
compared to $110.8 million in 1999. As a percentage of sales, selling and
administrative expenses totaled 32.4% in 2000 compared to 29.5% in 1999. During
2000, we recorded in selling and administrative expense, a non-recurring
severance charge of $1.5 million related to the restructuring of our orthopedic
direct sales force, as described in Note 11 to our consolidated financial
statements. This restructuring involved replacing our orthopedic direct sales
force with non-stocking exclusive sales agent groups in certain geographic
regions of the United States. This plan resulted in greater sales force coverage
in the affected geographic regions. During 1999, we recorded in selling and
administrative expense, the non-recurring $1.3 million benefit of a previously
recorded litigation accrual which was settled on favorable terms. Excluding
these non-recurring items, as a percentage of sales, selling and administrative
expense increased to 32.0% in 2000 as compared to 29.8% in 1999. This increase,
as a percentage of sales, is a result of increased spending on sales and
marketing programs, including higher commission and other costs associated with
the change to exclusive sales agent groups.

         Research and development expense was $14.9 million in 2000 as compared
to $12.1 million in 1999. As a percentage of sales, research and development
expense increased to 3.8% in 2000 as


                                      -26-


compared to 3.2% in 1999. This increase represents expanded research and
development efforts primarily focused on new product development in the
orthopedic product lines.

         Interest expense in 2000 was $34.3 million compared to $32.4 million in
1999. The increase in interest expense is primarily a result of higher weighted
average interest rates on the term loans and revolving credit facility under our
credit agreement, as described in Note 5 to our consolidated financial
statements, which increased to 8.73% and 9.06%, respectively, at December 31,
2000 as compared to 8.00% and 7.45%, respectively, at December 31, 1999
resulting in increased interest expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         Cash generated from our operations and borrowings under our revolving
credit facility have traditionally provided the working capital for our
operations, debt service under our credit facility and the funding of our
capital expenditures. In addition, we have used term borrowings, including (1)
borrowings under our credit facility, (2) Senior Subordinated Notes issued to
refinance borrowings under our credit facility, in the case of the Linvatec
acquisition in 1997, and (3) borrowings under separate loan facilities, in the
case of real property acquisitions, to finance our acquisitions. Following the
use of the proceeds of the offering to repay term loan borrowings under our
credit facility, we expect to continue to use cash flow from our operations and
borrowings under our revolving credit facility to finance our operations, our
debt service under our credit facility and the funding of our capital
expenditures.

         Our term loans under our credit facility at March 31, 2002 aggregated
$115.9 million. Our term loans are repayable quarterly over remaining terms of
approximately three years. Our credit facility also includes a $100.0 million
revolving credit facility which expires December 2002, of which $43.0 million
was available at March 31, 2002. The borrowings under the credit facility carry
interest rates based on a spread over LIBOR or an alternative base interest
rate. The weighted average interest rates at March 31, 2002 under the term loans
and the revolving credit facility were 4.20% and 3.70%, respectively.

         The Senior Subordinated Notes are in aggregate principal amount of
$130.0 million, have a maturity date of March 15, 2008 and bear interest at 9.0%
per annum which is payable semi-annually.

         We used term loans to purchase the property in Largo, Florida utilized
by our Linvatec subsidiary. The term loans consist of a Class A note bearing
interest at 7.50% per annum with semiannual payments of principal and interest
through June 2009, a Class C note bearing interest at 8.25% per annum compounded
semiannually through June 2009, after which semiannual payments of principal and
interest will commence, continuing through June 2019 and a seller-financed note
bearing interest at 6.50% per annum with monthly payments of principal and
interest through July 2013. The principal balances outstanding on the Class A
note, Class C note and Seller-financed note aggregate $11.7 million, $6.5
million and $4.1 million, respectively, at March 31, 2002.

         Our net working capital position was $47.4 million at March 31, 2002 as
compared to $44.7 million at December 31, 2001. Included in net working capital
is $57.0 million owed on our revolving credit facility which terminates on
December 31, 2002. We have begun discussions with our bank group regarding
extending the revolving credit facility or, as an alternative, renegotiating the
entire senior credit agreement. Based on our current discussions, we believe
that we will be able to successfully complete a senior credit arrangement which
will provide sufficient capital for our business. However, because of changed
economic conditions compared to market conditions in 1997 when our present
credit agreement was completed, we expect, based on discussions with our bank
group and current market conditions, that any new facility will carry interest
costs 75 to 100 basis points higher than our present credit agreement. Based on
the amounts outstanding at March 31, 2002 under the credit agreement, an


                                      -27-


increase of 75 to 100 basis points would result in an increase in annual
interest expense of approximately $1.3 million to $1.7 million.

         On November 1, 2001, we entered into a five-year accounts receivable
sales agreement pursuant to which we and certain of our subsidiaries sell on an
ongoing basis certain accounts receivable to CONMED Receivables Corporation, a
wholly-owned special-purpose subsidiary. CRC may in turn sell up to an aggregate
$50.0 million undivided percentage ownership interest in those receivables to a
commercial paper conduit. As of March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, the
undivided percentage ownership interest in receivables sold by CRC to a
commercial paper conduit aggregated $40.0 million, which has been accounted for
as a sale and reflected in the balance sheet as a reduction in accounts
receivable. We used the $40.0 million in proceeds from the sale of accounts
receivable in November 2001 to repay a portion of our term loans under our
credit agreement described in Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements.
The sale of accounts receivable is expected to enable us to lower our cost of
capital by approximately $0.5 million annually by effectively accessing the
commercial paper market. There are certain statistical ratios primarily related
to sales dilution and losses on accounts receivable which must be calculated
and maintained on the pool of receivables in order to continue selling to the
conduit purchaser. Management believes that additional accounts receivable
arising in the normal course of business will be of sufficient quality and
quantity to qualify for sale under the accounts receivable sales agreement. In
the event that new accounts receivable arising in the normal course of business
do not qualify for sale, then collections on sold receivables will flow to the
conduit purchaser rather than being used to fund new receivable purchases. If
this were to occur, we would need to access an alternate source of working
capital.

         Net cash provided by operations, which we also refer to as "operating
cash flow", increased to $12.4 million for the first three months of 2002
compared to $11.1 million for the same period a year ago, primarily as a result
of higher net income. Operating cash flow in the first quarter of 2002 was
positively impacted by depreciation, amortization and increases in accounts
payable and deferred income taxes. Operating cash flow in the first quarter of
2002 was negatively impacted primarily by an increase in inventory and decreases
in accrued compensation and accrued interest. The increase in inventory is
primarily related to expected increases in sales. The increases in accounts
payable and deferred income taxes and decreases in accrued compensation and
interest are primarily related to the timing of the payment of these
liabilities. Net cash provided by operations was $77.1 million in 2001.
Operating cash flow increased substantially in 2001 compared with 2000 and 1999
as a result of the sale of accounts receivable as noted above, which increased
operating cash flows by $40.0 million. Excluding the effects of the receivable
sale, operating cash flow was $37.1 million in 2001. Operating cash flow in 2001
was positively impacted primarily by depreciation, amortization and deferred
income taxes. Operating cash flow in 2001 was negatively impacted primarily as a
result of increases in inventory and accounts receivable (excluding the effects
of the receivable sale) as a result of the second Imagyn acquisition and overall
higher sales levels experienced in 2001. Net cash provided by operations was
$36.0 million in 2000. Operating cash flow in 2000 declined compared with $37.4
million in 1999 primarily as a result of lower net income in 2000 as compared to
1999. Operating cash flow in 2000 was positively impacted primarily by
depreciation, amortization and deferred income taxes. Operating cash flow in
2000 was negatively impacted primarily as a result of increased inventories and
accounts receivable as a result of overall higher sales levels in 2000 than
1999. Net cash provided by operations was $37.4 million in 1999. Operating cash
flow in 1999 was positively impacted primarily by depreciation, amortization and
deferred income taxes. Operating cash flow in 1999 was negatively impacted
primarily as a result of increases in accounts receivable and inventories. The
increase in accounts receivable and inventory was primarily related to the
increase in sales compared with the prior year.

         Capital expenditures in the three months ended March 31, 2002 were $3.2
million compared to $3.9 million in the same period a year ago. Capital
expenditures for 2001, 2000 and 1999 amounted to


                                      -28-


$14.4 million, $14.1 million, and $9.4 million. These capital expenditures
represent the ongoing capital investment requirements of our business and are
expected to continue at the rate of approximately $12.0 - $14.0 million
annually.

         Net cash used by investing activities in 2000 included $6.0 million
paid related to the Imagyn acquisition. Net cash used by investing activities in
1999 included $40.6 million paid related to the acquisition of the powered
surgical instrument business from 3M Company in August 1999, as described in
Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements on Form 10K.

         Financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2002 consisted
primarily of scheduled payments of $8.9 million on our term loans and $1.0
million in repayments under our revolving credit facility. Financing activities
in the three months ended March 31, 2001 consisted primarily of scheduled
payments of $9.0 million on our term loans and $3.0 million in borrowings under
our revolving credit facility. Proceeds from the issuance of common stock
related to our employee incentive stock option plans totaled $2.0 million in the
three months ended March 31, 2002 as compared to $.5 million in the three months
ended March 31, 2001. Financing activities in 2001 include $11.0 million in
borrowings under the revolving credit facility, $36.4 million in scheduled
payments on our term loans, and $40.0 million in additional payments on our term
loans with the proceeds from the accounts receivable sale discussed above.
Financing activities in 2000 include $17.0 million in borrowings under the
revolving credit facility and $32.9 million in scheduled payments on our term
loans. Financing activities during 1999 include a $40.0 million term loan used
to fund the acquisition of the powered surgical instrument business from 3M
Company in August 1999, scheduled payments of $23.1 million on our previously
existing term loans and $8.0 million in repayments on our revolving credit
facility. Proceeds from the issuance of common stock related to our employee
incentive stock option plans totaled $1.8 million in 2001, $0.4 million in 2000
and $1.6 million in 1999, respectively.

         Assuming the successful renegotiation of the revolving credit facility
discussed above, management believes that cash generated from operations, our
current cash resources and funds available under our revolving credit facility
will provide sufficient liquidity to ensure continued working capital for
operations, debt service and funding of capital expenditures in the foreseeable
future.

Contractual Obligations

         There were no capital lease obligations or unconditional purchase
obligations as of March 31, 2002. The following table summarizes our contractual
obligations related to operating leases and long-term debt as of March 31, 2002:



                                                                 ( in thousands)
                                        2002          2003        2004      2005        2006    Thereafter
                                  -----------    ---------   ----------  ---------   ---------  ----------
                                                                              

Long-term debt..............      $    63,368    $  43,364   $   36,749  $  35,181   $   1,943  $ 145,386
Operating lease obligations.            1,300        1,255        1,036        962         933      1,950
----------------------------      -----------    ---------   ----------  ---------   ---------  ---------
Total contractual cash            $    64,668    $  44,619   $   37,785  $  36,143   $   2,876  $ 147,336
                                  ===========    =========   ==========  =========   =========  =========
   obligations..............



Included in long-term debt obligations in 2002 is $57.0 million due under our
revolving credit facility.



                                      -29-






                                    BUSINESS

General

         CONMED Corporation is a medical technology company specializing in
instruments, implants and video equipment for arthroscopic sports medicine, and
powered surgical instruments, such as drills and saws, for orthopedic, ENT,
neuro-surgery and other surgical specialties. We are also a leading developer,
manufacturer and supplier of advanced surgical devices, including radio
frequency, or RF, electrosurgery systems used routinely to cut and cauterize
tissue in nearly all types of surgical procedures worldwide and endoscopy
products such as trocars, clip appliers, scissors and surgical staplers. We
also manufacture and sell a full line of ECG electrodes for heart monitoring
and  other patient care products. Our products are used in a variety of
clinical settings, such as operating rooms, surgery centers, physicians'
offices and critical care areas of hospitals.

         We have used strategic business acquisitions to broaden our product
offerings, to increase our market share in certain product lines and to realize
economies of scale. Since 1997, we have completed six strategic business
acquisitions. The completed acquisitions, together with internal growth, have
resulted in a compound annual growth rate in net sales of 32% between 1997 and
2001.

Industry

         The growth in the markets for our products is primarily driven by:

         Favorable Demographics. The number of surgical procedures performed is
increasing. This growth in surgical procedures reflects demographic trends, such
as the aging of the population, and technological advancements, which result in
safer and less invasive surgical procedures. Additionally, as people are living
longer, more active lives, they are engaging in contact sports and activities
such as running, skiing, rollerblading, golf and tennis which result in injuries
with greater frequency and at an earlier age than ever before. Sales of our
surgical products represented over 85% of our total 2001 sales. See "--Our
Products."

         Continued Pressure to Reduce Health Care Costs. In response to rising
health care costs, managed care companies and other third-party payers have
placed pressures on health care providers to reduce costs. As a result, health
care providers have focused on the high cost areas such as surgery. To reduce
costs, health care providers use minimally invasive techniques, which generally
reduce patient trauma, recovery time and ultimately the length of
hospitalization. Many of our products are designed for use in minimally invasive
surgical procedures. See "--Our Products." Health care providers are also
increasingly purchasing single-use, disposable products, which reduce the costs
associated with sterilizing surgical instruments and products following surgery.
The single-use nature of disposable products lowers the risk of incorrectly
sterilized instruments spreading infection into the patient and increasing the
cost of post-operative care. Approximately 75% of our sales are derived from
single-use disposable products.

         In the United States, the pressure on health care providers to contain
costs has altered their purchasing patterns for general surgical instruments and
disposable medical products. Many health care providers have entered into
comprehensive purchasing contracts with fewer suppliers, which offer a broader
array of products at lower prices. In addition, many health care providers have
aligned themselves with GPOs or IHNs, which aggregate the purchasing volume of
their members in order to negotiate competitive pricing with suppliers,
including manufacturers of surgical products. We believe that these trends will
favor entities that offer a broad product portfolio. See "--Business Strategy"
below.



                                      -30-


         Increased Global Medical Spending. We believe that foreign markets
offer growth opportunities for our products. We currently distribute our
products through our own sales subsidiaries or through local dealers in over 100
foreign countries. International sales represented approximately 29% of total
sales in 2001.

Competitive Strengths

         We believe that we have a top two or three market share position in
each of our five key product areas and have established our position as a market
leader by capitalizing on the following competitive strengths:

         o        Strong Brand Recognition. We are a leading provider of
                  arthroscopic surgery devices, electrosurgical systems, powered
                  surgical instruments and ECG electrodes. Our products are sold
                  under leading brand names, including CONMED(R), Linvatec(R),
                  and Hall Surgical(R). These brand names are well recognized by
                  physicians for quality and service. We believe that brand
                  recognition helps drive demand for our products by enabling us
                  to build upon the reputation for quality and service
                  associated with these brands and gain faster acceptance when
                  introducing new branded products.

         o        Breadth of Product Offering. The breadth of our product lines
                  in our key product areas enables us to meet a wide range of
                  customer requirements and preferences. In three of our five
                  key product areas, we are only one of two providers that
                  offers a full line of products. For example, we offer a
                  complete set of the arthroscopy products a surgeon requires
                  for most arthroscopic procedures, including instrument and
                  repair sets, implants, shaver consoles and handpieces, video
                  systems and related disposables. This in turn has enhanced our
                  ability to market our products to surgeons, hospitals, surgery
                  centers, GPOs, IHNs and other customers, particularly as
                  institutions seek to reduce costs and to minimize the number
                  of suppliers.

         o        Successful Integration of Acquisitions. Since 1997, we have
                  completed six acquisitions including the 1997 acquisition of
                  Linvatec Corporation which more than doubled our size. These
                  acquisitions have enabled us to broaden our product
                  categories, expand our sales and distribution capabilities and
                  increase our international presence. Our management team,
                  which averages more than 15 years of experience in the health
                  care industry, has demonstrated a historical ability to
                  identify complementary acquisitions and to integrate acquired
                  companies into our operations.
         o        Extensive Marketing and Distribution
                  Infrastructure. We market our products domestically through
                  our sales force consisting of approximately 210 employee
                  sales representatives and an additional 90 sales
                  professionals employed by eight non-stocking sales agent
                  groups, seven of which are exclusive. All of our sales
                  professionals are highly trained and educated in the
                  applications or procedures for the products they sell. They
                  call directly on surgeons, hospital departments, outpatient
                  surgery centers and physician offices. Additionally, we have
                  an international presence through sales subsidiaries and
                  branches located in key international markets. We sell direct
                  to hospital customers in these markets with an employee-based
                  international sales force of approximately 40 sales
                  representatives. We also maintain distributor relationships
                  domestically and in numerous countries worldwide. See
                  "--Marketing."



                                      -31-


         o        Vertically Integrated Manufacturing. We manufacture most of
                  our products and components. Our vertically integrated
                  manufacturing process has allowed us to provide quality
                  products, to react quickly to changes in demand and to
                  generate manufacturing efficiencies, including purchasing raw
                  materials used in a variety of disposable products in bulk. We
                  believe that these manufacturing capabilities allow us to
                  contain costs, control quality and maintain security of
                  proprietary processes. We continually evaluate our
                  manufacturing processes with the objective of increasing
                  automation, streamlining production and enhancing efficiency
                  in order to achieve cost savings, while seeking to improve
                  quality.

         o        Research and Development Expertise. Our research and
                  development effort is focused on introducing new products,
                  enhancing existing products and developing new technologies.
                  During the last two years, we have introduced more than 24
                  products and product enhancements. Our reputation as an
                  innovator is exemplified by our "first-to-market" product
                  introductions, which include the Envision(TM) Autoclave Three
                  Chip Camera Head, Advantage(TM) drive system, the Trident(TM)
                  resection ablator, the SureCharge(TM) battery sterilization
                  system and the 2.9 millimeter arthroscopy scope. Research and
                  development expenditures were $14.8 million in 2001.

Business Strategy

         Our business strategy is to continue to strengthen our position as a
market leader in our key product areas. The elements of our strategy include:

         o        Introduce New Products and Product Enhancements. We will
                  continue to pursue organic growth by developing new products
                  and enhancing existing products to respond to customer needs
                  and preferences. We are continually seeking to develop new
                  technologies to improve durability, performance and usability
                  of existing products. In addition to our research and
                  development, we receive new ideas for products and
                  technologies, especially in procedure-specific areas, from
                  surgeons, inventors and operating room personnel.

         o        Pursue Strategic Acquisitions. We believe that strategic
                  acquisitions represent a cost-effective means of broadening
                  our product line. We have historically targeted companies with
                  proven technologies and established brand names that provide
                  potential sales, marketing and manufacturing synergies. Since
                  1997, we have completed six acquisitions, expanding our
                  product line to include arthroscopy products, powered surgical
                  instruments and most recently endoscopy products.

         o        Realize Manufacturing and Operating Efficiencies. We will
                  continue to review opportunities for consolidating product
                  lines and streamlining production. We believe our vertically
                  integrated manufacturing processes can produce further
                  opportunities to reduce overhead and to increase operating
                  efficiencies and capacity utilization.

         o        Maintain Strong International Sales Growth. We believe there
                  are significant sales opportunities for our surgical products
                  outside the United States. We intend to maintain our
                  international sales growth and increase our penetration into
                  international markets by utilizing our relationships with
                  foreign surgeons, hospitals and third-party payers, as well as
                  foreign distributors. In 2001, our sales outside the United
                  States grew by 14% and represented 29% of our 2001 sales.



                                      -32-


Our Products

         The following table sets forth the percentage of net sales for each
category of our products for 1999, 2000 and 2001:

                                                 Year Ended December 31,
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                            1999          2000          2001
                                        -----------  -------------  ------------

Arthroscopy..........................        38%           36%           36%
Powered surgical instruments.........        23            29            27
Electrosurgery.......................        17            16            16
Patient Care.........................        21            17            16
Endoscopy............................         1             2             5
                                        -----------  -------------  ------------
      Total..........................       100%          100%          100%
                                        ===========  =============  ============
Net sales (in thousands).............     $376,226      $395,873      $428,722
                                        ===========  =============  ============

Arthroscopy

         We offer a broad line of devices and products for use in arthroscopic
surgery. Arthroscopy refers to diagnostic and therapeutic surgical procedures
performed on joints with the use of minimally-invasive arthroscopes and related
instruments. Minimally-invasive arthroscopy procedures enable surgical repairs
to be completed with less trauma to the patient, resulting in shorter recovery
times and cost savings. About 75% of all arthroscopy is performed on the knee,
although arthroscopic procedures are increasingly performed on shoulders and
smaller joints, such as the wrist and ankle.

         Our arthroscopy products include powered resection instruments,
arthroscopes, reconstructive systems, tissue repair sets, fluid management
systems, imaging products, implants and related disposable products. It is our
standard practice to transfer some of these products, such as shaver consoles
and pumps, to certain customers at no charge. These capital "placements" allow
for and accommodate the use of a variety of disposable products, such as shaver
blades, burs and pump tubing. We have benefited from the introduction of new
products and new technologies in the arthroscopic area, such as bioresorbable
screws, ablators, "push-in" and "screw-in" suture anchors, resection shavers and
cartilage repair implants.

         The majority of arthroscopic procedures are performed to repair
injuries that have occurred in the joint areas of the body. Many of these
injuries are the result of sports related events or other traumas. This explains
why arthroscopy is sometimes referred to as "sports medicine."




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Arthroscopy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product                               Description                    Brand Name
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             
                                                                     Advantage(TM)
Ablators and Shaver      Electrosurgical ablators and resection      ESA(TM)
Ablators                 ablators to resect and remove soft          Sterling(R)
                         tissue and bone; used in knee, shoulder     UltrAblator(TM)
                         and small joint surgery.                    Heatwave(TM)
                                                                     Trident(TM)

Knee Reconstructive      Products used in cruciate reconstructive    Paramax(R)
Systems                  surgery; includes instrumentation,          Pinn-ACL(R)
                         screws, pins and ligament harvesting and    GraFix(TM)
                         preparation devices.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                      -33-




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Arthroscopy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product                                              Description                         Brand Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                   
Soft Tissue Repair Systems       Instrument systems designed to attach specific torn     Spectrum(R)
                                 or damaged soft tissue to bone or other soft tissue     Inteq(R)
                                 in the knee, shoulder and wrist; includes               Shuttle Relay(TM)
                                 instrumentation, guides, hooks and suture devices.      Blitz(R)

Fluid Management Systems         Disposable tubing sets, disposable and reusable         Apex(R)
                                 inflow devices, pumps and suction/waste management      Quick-Flow(R)
                                 systems for use in arthroscopic and general surgeries.  Quick-Connect(R)

Imaging                          Surgical video systems for endoscopic procedures;       Apex(R)
                                 includes autoclavable single and three-chip camera      8180 Series
                                 heads and consoles, endoscopes, light sources,          Envision(TM)Autoclavable
                                 monitors, VCRs and printers.                              Three Chip Camera Head

Implants                         Products including bioabsorbable and metal              BioScrew(R)
                                 interference screws and suture anchors for attaching    BioStinger(R)
                                 soft tissue to bone in the knee, shoulder and wrist     BioAnchor(R)
                                 as well as miniscal repair.                             BioTwist(R)
                                                                                         Ultrafix(R)
                                                                                         Revo(R)
                                                                                         Super Revo(R)

Other Instruments and            Forceps, graspers, punches, probes, sterilization       Shutt(R)
Accessories                      cases and other general instruments for arthroscopic    Concept(R)
                                 procedures.                                             TractionTower(R)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Powered Surgical Instruments

         Powered surgical instruments are used to perform orthopedic,
arthroscopic and other surgical procedures, such as cutting, drilling or reaming
and are driven by electric, battery or pneumatic power. Each instrument consists
of one or more handpieces and related accessories as well as disposable and
limited reuse items (e.g., burs, saw blades, drills and reamers). Powered
instruments are generally categorized as either small bone, large bone or
specialty powered instruments. Specialty powered instruments include surgical
applications such as spine, neurosurgery, otolaryngology (ENT),
oral/maxillofacial surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery.

         Our line of powered instruments is sold principally under the Hall(R)
Surgical brand name, for use in large and small bone orthopedic, arthroscopic,
oral/maxillofacial, podiatric, plastic, otolaryngologic, neurological, spine and
cardiothoracic surgeries. Large bone, neurosurgical, spine and cardiothoracic
powered instruments are sold primarily to hospitals while small bone
arthroscopic, otolaryngological and oral/maxillofacial powered instruments are
sold to hospitals, outpatient facilities and physician offices. Our Linvatec
subsidiary has devoted substantial resources to developing a new technology base
for large


                                      -34-


bone, small bone, arthroscopic, neurosurgical, spine and otolaryngological
instruments that can be easily adapted and modified for new procedures.

         Our powered instruments line also includes our recently introduced
PowerPro(R) Battery System, which is a full function orthopedic power system
specifically designed to meet the requirements of most orthopedic applications.
The PowerPro(R) Battery System has a Surecharge(TM) option that allows the user
to sterilize the battery before it is charged. This ensures that the battery
will be fully charged when delivered to the operating room, unlike other battery
systems currently available on the market. The PowerPro(R) uses a process we
invented for maintaining sterility during the charging process, thus avoiding
the loss of battery charge during sterilization, which frequently results in
competing battery systems during sterilization.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Powered Surgical Instruments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product                                               Description                       Brand Name

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                   
                                                                                         Hall(R) Surgical
Large Bone                       Powered saws, drills and related disposable             MaxiDriver(TM)
                                 accessories for use primarily in total knee and hip     VersiPower(R)Plus
                                 joint replacements and trauma surgical procedures.      Series 4(R)
                                                                                         PowerPro(R)
                                                                                         Advantage(TM)
                                                                                         SureCharge(TM)

Small Bone                       Powered saws, drills and related disposable             Hall(R)Surgical
                                 accessories for small bones and joint surgical          E9000(R)
                                 procedures.                                             MiniDriver(TM)
                                                                                         MicroChoice(R)
                                                                                         Micro 100(TM)
                                                                                         Advantage(TM)

Otolaryngology Neurosurgery      Specialty powered saws, drill and related disposable    Hall(R)Surgical
Spine                            accessories for use in neurosurgery, spine, and         E9000(R)
                                 otolaryngologic procedures.                             UltraPower(R)
                                                                                         Hall Osteon(R)
                                                                                         Hall Ototome(R)

Cardiothoracic                   Powered sternum saws, drills, and related disposable    Hall(R)Surgical
Oral/maxillofacial               accessories for use by cardiothoracic and               E9000(R)
                                 oral/maxillofacial surgeons.                            UltraPower(R)
                                                                                         Micro 100(TM)
                                                                                         VersiPower(R)Plus
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Electrosurgery

         Electrosurgery is the technique of using a high-frequency electric
current which, when applied to tissue through special instruments, can be used
to cut tissue, coagulate, or cut and coagulate simultaneously. Radio frequency
("RF") is the form of high frequency electric current that is used in
electrosurgery. An electrosurgical system consists of a generator, an active
electrode in the form of a cautery pencil or other instrument which the surgeon
uses to apply the current from the generator to the target tissue and a ground
pad to safely return the current to the generator. Electrosurgery is routinely
used in most forms of surgery, including general, dermatologic, thoracic,
orthopedic, urologic, neurosurgical, gynecological, laparoscopic, arthroscopic
and other endoscopic procedures.



                                      -35-


         Our electrosurgical products include electrosurgical pencils and
blades, ground pads, generators, the argon-beam coagulation system (ABC(R)),
and related disposable products. ABC(R) technology is a special method of
electrosurgery, which allows a faster and more complete coagulation of many
tissues as compared to conventional electrosurgery. Unlike conventional
electrosurgery, the electrical current travels in a beam of ionized argon gas,
allowing the current to be dispersed onto the bleeding tissue without the
instrument touching the tissue. Clinicians have reported notable benefits of
ABC(R) over traditional electrosurgical coagulation in certain clinical
situations, including open-heart; liver, spleen and trauma surgery.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Electrosurgery
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product                                             Description                          Brand Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                   
Pencils                          Disposable and reusable instruments designed to         Hand-trol(R)
                                 deliver high-frequency electric current to cut and/or   Gold Line(R)
                                 coagulate tissue.                                       Clear Vac(R)

Ground Pads                      Disposable ground pads to safely return the current     Macrolyte(R)
                                 to the generator; available in adult, pediatric and     Bio-gard(R)
                                 infant sizes.                                           SureFit(R)

Blades                           Surgical blades and accessory electrodes that           Ultra Clean(TM)
                                 use a proprietary coating to eliminate tissue
                                 buildup on the blade during surgery.

Generators                       Monopolar and bipolar generators for surgical           EXCALIBUR Plus PC(R)
                                 procedures performed in a hospital, physician's         SABRE(R)
                                 office or clinic setting.                               Hyfrecator(R)2000

Argon Beam                       Specialized electrosurgical generators, disposable      ABC(R)
   Coagulation Systems           hand pieces and ground pads for enhanced non-contact    Beamer Plus(R)
                                 coagulation of tissue.                                  System 7500(R)
                                                                                         ABC Flex(R)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Patient Care

         We manufacture a variety of patient care products for use in monitoring
cardiac rhythms, wound care management and IV therapy. These products include
ECG electrodes and cables, wound dressings and catheter stabilization dressings.
Our patient care product lines also include disposable surgical suction
instruments and connecting tubing. The majority of our sales in this category
are derived from the sale of ECG electrodes and surgical suction instruments and
tubing. Although wound management and intravenous therapy product sales are
comparatively small, the application of these products in the operating room
complements our surgery business.




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Patient Care Products
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product                                            Description                           Brand Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                   
ECG Monitoring                   Line of disposable electrodes, monitoring cables,       CONMED(R)
                                 lead wire products and accessories designed to          Ultratrace(R)
                                 transmit ECG signals from the heart to an ECG           Cleartrace(R)
                                 monitor  or recorder.




                                      -36-




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Patient Care Products
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product                                            Description                           Brand Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                   
Wound Care                       Disposable transparent wound dressings comprising       ClearSite(R)
                                 proprietary hydrogel; able to absorb 2 1/2 times its    Hydrogauze(R)
                                 weight in wound exudate.                                SportPatch(TM)

Patient Positioners              Products that properly and safely position              Airsoft(TM)
                                 patients  while in surgery.

Surgical Suction Instruments     Disposable surgical suction instruments and             CONMED(R)
and Tubing                       connecting tubing, including Yankauer, Poole, Frazier
                                 and Sigmoidoscopic instrumentation, for use by
                                 physicians in the majority of open surgical
                                 procedures.

Intravenous Therapy              Disposable IV drip rate gravity controller and          VENI-GARD(R)
                                 disposable catheter stabilization dressing designed     MasterFlow(R)
                                 to hold and secure an IV needle or catheter for use     Stat 2(R)
                                 in IV therapy.

Defibrillator Pads and           Stimulation electrodes for use in emergency cardiac     PadPro(TM)
Accessories                      response and for conduction studies of the heart.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Endoscopy

         Endoscopic surgery (also called Laparoscopic surgery) is surgery
performed without a major incision, which results in less trauma for the patient
and produces important cost savings as a result of reduced hospitalization and
therapy. Endoscopic surgery is performed on organs in the abdominal cavity such
as the gallbladder, appendix and female reproductive organs. During a procedure,
devices called "trocars" are used to puncture the abdominal wall and then are
removed, leaving in place a trocar cannula. The trocar cannula provides access
into the abdomen for camera systems and surgical instruments. Some of our
endoscopic instruments are "reposable", which means that the instrument has a
disposable and a reusable component.

         Our Endoscopy products include the Reflex(R) clip applier for vessel
and duct ligation, UNIVERSAL S/I(TM) (suction/irrigation) and UNIVERSAL PLUS(R)
laparoscopic instruments, and specialized, suction/irrigation electrosurgical
instrument systems for use in laparoscopic surgery and the TROGARD Finesse(R)
which incorporates a blunt-tipped version of a trocar. The TROGARD Finesse(R)
dilates access through the body wall rather than cutting with the sharp, pointed
tips of conventional trocars. This results in smaller wounds, and less bleeding.
We also market cutting trocars, suction/irrigation accessories, laparoscopic
scissors, active electrodes, insufflation needles, linear cutters and staplers,
and ABC(R) handpieces for use in laparoscopic surgery. Disposable skin staplers
are used to close large skin incisions with surgical staples eliminating the
time consuming suturing process.




                                      -37-




---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Endoscopy
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product                                           Description                            Brand Name
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                   
Trocars                          Disposable and reposable devices used to puncture the   Finesse(R)
                                 abdominal wall to provide access to the abdominal       Reflex(R)
                                 cavity for camera systems and instruments.              Detach a Port(R)

Multi-functional                 Instruments for cutting and coagulating tissue by       Universal(TM)
Electrosurgery and               delivering high-frequency current.  Instruments that    Universal Plus(TM)
Suction/Irrigation instruments   deliver irrigating fluid to the tissue and remove       FloVac(R)
                                 blood and fluids from the internal operating field.

Clip Appliers                    Disposable devices for ligating blood vessels and       Reflex(R)
                                 ducts by placing a titanium clip on the vessel

Laparoscopic Instruments         Scissors, graspers                                      Detach a Tip(R)

Skin Staplers                    Disposable devices that place surgical staples to       Reflex(R)
                                 close a surgical incision.

Microlaparoscopy scopes and      Small laparoscopes and instruments for doing surgery    MicroLap(R)
instruments                      through very small incisions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Marketing

         In the United States, most of the Company's products are marketed
directly to more than 6,000 hospitals, and to surgeons and other health care
facilities.

         Approximately 24% of the Company's revenues in 2001 were to
customers affiliated with GPOs, IHNs and other large national or regional
accounts and 1% of 2001 revenues were to the Veterans Administration and
other hospitals operated by the Federal government. For hospital inventory
management purposes, certain of our customers prefer to purchase our products
through independent third-party medical product distributors. Approximately 26%
of our 2001 revenues represents sales made through such distributors.

         In order to provide a high level of expertise to the medical
specialties we serve, our domestic sales force consists of the following:

o        180 sales representatives selling arthroscopy and orthopedic powered
         surgical instrument products, including 90 employee sales
         representatives and 90 sales professionals employed by eight sales
         agent groups.

o        60 employee sales representatives selling electrosurgery products.

o        30 employee sales representatives selling endoscopy products.

o        30 employee sales representatives selling patient care products.



                                      -38-


         Each employee sales representative has a defined geographic area and is
compensated on a commission basis or through a combination of salary and
commission. The sales force is supervised and supported by area directors. Sales
agent groups are used in the eight largest metropolitan areas of the United
States to sell our orthopedic products in their geographic territories. All of
these sales agent groups, except one, sell CONMED products exclusively. None
stock product for resale to customers as we ship product directly to customers
and carry the receivable for that group. The sales agent groups are all paid a
commission for sales made to customers in their exclusive geographic areas. Home
office sales and marketing management provide the overall direction for the
sales of our products.

         We also have a corporate sales department that is responsible for
interacting with GPOs and IHNs. We have contracts with many such organizations
and believe that the lack of any individual group purchasing contract will not
adversely impact our competitiveness in the marketplace. Our sales professionals
are required to work closely with distributors where applicable and to maintain
close relationships with end-users.

         The sale of our products is accompanied by initial and ongoing
in-service training of the end user. Our sales professionals are trained in the
technical aspects of our products and their uses and the procedures in which
they are used. Our sales professionals, in turn, provide surgeons and medical
personnel with information relating to the technical features and benefits of
our products.

         Our international sales accounted for approximately 29% of total
revenues in 2001. Products are sold in over 100 foreign countries. International
sales efforts are coordinated through local country dealers or with direct sales
efforts. We distribute our products through sales subsidiaries and branches with
offices located in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Korea, Spain and
the United Kingdom. In these countries, our sales are denominated in the local
currency. In the remaining countries where our products are sold through
independent distributors, sales are denominated in United States dollars.

         We sell to a diversified base of customers around the world and,
therefore, believe there is no material concentration of credit risk.

Manufacturing

         We manufacture most of our products and assemble them primarily from
components we produce. We believe our vertically integrated manufacturing
process allows us to provide quality products and generate manufacturing
efficiencies by purchasing raw materials for our disposable products in bulk. We
also believe that our manufacturing capabilities allow us to contain costs,
control quality and maintain security of proprietary processes. We use various
manual and automated equipment for fabrication and assembly of our products and
are continuing to further automate our facilities.

         We use a variety of raw materials in our manufacturing processes. We
work to maintain multiple suppliers for each of our raw materials and
components. None of our critical raw materials are sourced from a single
supplier.

         All of our products are classified as medical devices subject to
regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. As a manufacturer of medical
devices, our manufacturing processes and facilities are subject to on-site
inspection and continuing review by the FDA for compliance with its Quality
System Regulations. Manufacturing and sales of our products outside the United
States are also subject to foreign regulatory requirements that vary from
country to country. The time required to obtain approvals from foreign countries
may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval, and requirements
for foreign approvals may differ from FDA requirements.



                                      -39-


         The following table provides information regarding our primary
manufacturing and administrative facilities. We believe our facilities are
adequate in terms of space and suitability for our needs over the next several
years.

        Location               Square Feet    Own or Lease    Lease Expiration
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Utica, NY (two facilities)       650,000          Own               -
Largo, FL                        278,000          Own               -
Rome, NY                         120,000          Own               -
Englewood, CO                     65,000          Own               -
Irvine, CA                        31,000         Lease         August 2003
El Paso, TX                       29,000         Lease          April 2005
Juarez, Mexico                    25,000         Lease        December 2004
Santa Barbara, CA                 18,000         Lease        December 2003

         We believe our production and inventory practices are generally
reflective of conditions in the industry. Our products are not generally made to
order or to individual customer specifications. Accordingly, we schedule
production and stock inventory on the basis of experience and our knowledge of
customer order patterns, and our judgment as to anticipated demand. Since
customer orders must generally be filled promptly for immediate shipment,
backlog of unfilled orders is not significant to an understanding of our
business.

Research and Development Activities

         During the years ended December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001, we spent
approximately $12.1 million, $14.9 million and $14.8 million for research and
development. Our research and development department has 116 employees.

         Our research and development programs focus on the development of new
products, as well as the enhancement of existing products with the latest
technology and updated designs. We are continually seeking to develop new
technologies to improve durability, performance and usability of existing
products. In addition to our own research and development, we receive new
product and technology disclosures, especially in procedure-specific areas, from
surgeons, inventors and operating room personnel. For disclosures that we deem
promising from a clinical and commercial perspective, we seek to obtain rights
to these ideas by negotiating agreements, which typically compensate the
originator of the idea through royalty payments based on a percentage of net
sales of licensed products.

         We have rights to numerous U.S. patents and corresponding foreign
patents, covering a wide range of our products. We own a majority of these
patents and have licensed rights to the remainder, both on an exclusive and
non-exclusive basis. In addition, certain patents are currently licensed to
third parties on a non-exclusive basis. Due to technological advancements, we do
not rely on our patents to maintain our competitive position, and we believe
that development of new products and improvement of existing ones is and will
continue to be more important than patent protection in maintaining our
competitive position.

Competition

         The market for our products is highly competitive and our customers
have numerous alternatives of supply. Many of our competitors offer a range of
products in areas other than those in which we


                                      -40-


compete, which may make such competitors more attractive to surgeons, hospitals,
group purchasing organizations and others. In addition, many of our competitors
are larger and have greater financial resources than we do and offer a range of
products broader than our products. Because our customers are not bound by
long-term supply arrangements with us, we may not be able to shift our
production to other products following a loss of customers to our competitors.

         The following chart identifies our principal competitors in each of our
key business areas:

  Arthroscopy:                      Smith & Nephew plc
                                    Arthrex
                                    Stryker Corporation
                                    Arthrocare
                                    Johnson & Johnson's Mitek division

  Powered Surgical Instruments:     Stryker Corporation
                                    Medtronic, Inc.'s Midas Rex and Xomed
                                       divisions
                                    Anspach

  Electrosurgery:                   Tyco International Ltd.'s Valleylab division
                                    3M Company
                                    Johnson & Johnson

  Patient Care:                     Tyco International Ltd.'s Kendall division
                                    3M Company

  Endoscopy:                        Tyco International Ltd.'s U.S. Surgical
                                       division
                                    Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon division

         We believe that product design, development and improvement, customer
acceptance, marketing strategy, customer service and price are critical elements
to compete in our industry. Other alternatives, such as medical procedures or
pharmaceuticals, could at some point prove to be interchangeable alternatives to
our products.

Government Regulation

         Most if not all of our products are classified as medical devices
subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. Our new products
generally require FDA clearance under a procedure known as 510(k) premarketing
notification. A 510(k) premarketing notification clearance indicates FDA
agreement with an applicant's determination that the product for which clearance
has been sought is substantially equivalent to another medical device that was
on the market prior to 1976 or that has received 510(k) premarketing
notification clearance. Some products have been continuously produced, marketed
and sold since May 1976 and require no 510(k) premarketing clearance. Our
products generally are either Class I or Class II products with the FDA, meaning
that our products must meet certain FDA standards and are subject to the 510(k)
premarketing notification clearance discussed above, but are not required to be
approved by the FDA. FDA clearance is subject to continual review, and later
discovery of previously unknown problems may result in restrictions on a
product's marketing or withdrawal of the product from the market.



                                      -41-


         We have quality control/regulatory compliance groups that are tasked
with monitoring compliance with design specifications and relevant government
regulations for all of our products. We and substantially all of our products
are subject to the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of
1938, as amended by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976, and the Safe Medical
Device Act of 1990, as amended in 1992, and similar foreign regulations.

         As a manufacturer of medical devices, our manufacturing processes and
facilities are subject to periodic on-site inspections and continuing review by
the FDA to insure compliance with Quality System Regulations as specified in
Title 21, Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) part 820. Many of our products are
subject to industry-set standards. Industry standards relating to our products
are generally formulated by committees of the Association for the Advancement of
Medical Instrumentation. We believe that our products presently meet applicable
standards. We market our products in a number of foreign markets. Requirements
pertaining to our products vary widely from country to country, ranging from
simple product registrations to detailed submissions such as those required by
the FDA. We believe that our products currently meet applicable standards for
the countries in which they are marketed.

         We are subject to product recall and have made product recalls in the
past. No recall has had a material effect on our financial condition, but there
can be no assurance regulatory issues may not have a material adverse effect in
the future.

         Any change in existing federal, state or foreign laws or regulations,
or in the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the promulgation or any
additional laws or regulations could have an adverse effect on our financial
condition or results of operations.

Employees

         As of December 2001, we had 2,560 full-time employees, of whom 1,754
were in manufacturing, 116 in research and development, and the balance were in
sales, marketing, executive and administrative positions. None of our employees
are represented by a union, and we consider our employee relations to be
excellent. We have never experienced any strikes or work stoppages.


                                      -42-


                                   MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

         Our executive officers and the members of our board of directors are as
follows:

                 Name         Age   Position
                 ----         ---   --------

Eugene R. Corasanti.........  71    Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                        Officer
Joseph J. Corasanti.........  38    President and Chief Operating Officer,
                                        Director
William W. Abraham..........  70    Senior Vice President
Robert D. Shallish, Jr. ....  53    Chief Financial Officer
Gerald G. Woodard...........  54    President - Linvatec
Daniel S. Jonas.............  38    Vice President - Legal Affairs and General
                                        Counsel
Luke A. Pomilio.............  37    Vice President; Controller
Thomas M. Acey..............  55    Secretary and Treasurer
Frank R. Williams...........  53    Vice President - Sales and Marketing for
                                        Endoscopy
John J. Stotts..............  45    Vice President - Marketing and Sales for
                                        Patient Care Products
Eugene T. Starr.............  56    President - CONMED Electrosurgery
Robert E. Remmell...........  71    Director
Bruce F. Daniels............  67    Director
William D. Matthews.........  67    Director
Stuart J. Schwartz..........  65    Director

         Eugene R. Corasanti has served as our Chairman of the Board since our
incorporation in 1970. Mr. Corasanti is also our Chief Executive Officer. Prior
to that time he was an independent public accountant. Mr. Corasanti holds a
B.B.A. degree in Accounting from Niagara University.

         Joseph J. Corasanti has served as our President and Chief Operating
Officer since August 1999 and as a Director since May 1994. He also served as
our General Counsel and Vice President-Legal Affairs from March 1993 to August
1998 and our Executive Vice-President/General Manager from August 1998 to August
1999. Prior to that time he was an Associate Attorney with the law firm of
Morgan, Wenzel & McNicholas, Los Angeles, California from 1990 to March 1993.
Mr. Corasanti holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Hobart College and a
J.D. degree from Whittier College School of Law. Joseph J. Corasanti is the son
of Eugene R. Corasanti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

         William W. Abraham joined us in May 1977 as General Manager. He has
served as our Vice President-Manufacturing and Engineering since June 1983. In
November of 1989 he was named Executive Vice President and in March 1993, he was
named Senior Vice President. Mr. Abraham holds a B.S. degree in Industrial
Management from Utica College.

         Robert D. Shallish, Jr. joined us as Chief Financial Officer and Vice
President-Finance in December 1989 and has also served as an Assistant Secretary
since March 1995. Prior to this he was employed as Controller of Genigraphics
Corporation in Syracuse, New York since 1984. He was employed by Price
Waterhouse LLP as a certified public accountant and senior manager from 1972
through 1984. Mr. Shallish graduated with a B.A. degree in Economics from
Hamilton College and holds a Master's degree in Accounting from Syracuse
University.



                                      -43-


         Gerald G. Woodard joined us as President of Linvatec Corporation, our
wholly-owned subsidiary, in May 2000. Prior to his employment with us, Mr.
Woodard served as the President of Elekta Holdings, Inc. from March 1998 to May
2000. Previous to this position Mr. Woodard was the President of the Monitoring
and Information Systems Division of Marquette Medical Systems from November 1995
to March 1998. Mr. Woodard holds a B.G.S. degree from Indiana University.

         Daniel S. Jonas joined us as General Counsel in August 1998 and in
addition became our Vice President-Legal Affairs in March 1999. In September
1999, Mr. Jonas assumed responsibility for certain of our Regulatory Affairs and
Quality Assurance. Prior to his employment with us he was a partner with the law
firm of Harter, Secrest & Emery, LLP in Syracuse from January 1998 to August
1998, having joined the firm as an Associate Attorney in 1995. Prior to that he
was an Associate Attorney at Miller, Alfano & Raspanti, P.C. in Philadelphia
from 1992 to 1995 as well as an adjunct professor of law at the University of
Pennsylvania Law School from 1991 to 1995. Mr. Jonas holds an A.B. degree from
Brown University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

         Luke A. Pomilio joined us as Controller in September 1995. In addition,
in September 1999, Mr. Pomilio became a Vice President with responsibility for
certain of our manufacturing and research and development activities. Prior to
his employment with us, Mr. Pomilio served for two years as Controller of Rome
Cable Corporation, a wire and cable manufacturer. He was also employed as a
certified public accountant for seven years with Price Waterhouse LLP where he
served most recently as an audit manager. Mr. Pomilio graduated with a B.S.
degree in Accounting and Law from Clarkson University.

         Thomas M. Acey has been employed by us since August 1980 and has served
as our Treasurer since August 1988 and as our Secretary since January 1993. Mr.
Acey holds a B.S. degree in Public Accounting from Utica College and prior to
joining us was employed by the certified public accounting firm of Tartaglia &
Benzo in Utica, New York.

         Frank R. Williams joined us in 1974 as Sales Manager and Director of
Marketing and became Vice President-Marketing and Sales in June 1983. In
September 1989, he became Vice President-Business Development, in November 1995,
he became Vice President-Technology Assessment and in January 2000, he also
became Vice President-Research and Development and Marketing for Minimally
Invasive Surgical Products, which is now known as CONMED Endoscopy. Mr. Williams
graduated with a B.A. degree from Hartwick College in 1970 as a biology major
and did his graduate study in Human Anatomy at the University of Rochester
College of Medicine.

         John J. Stotts joined us as Vice President-Marketing and Sales for
Patient Care in July 1993 and became Vice President-Marketing in December 1996.
In January 2000, Mr. Stotts became Vice President - Marketing and Sales for
Patient Care Products. Prior to his employment with us, Mr. Stotts served as
Director of Marketing and Sales for Medtronic Andover Medical, Inc. Mr. Stotts
holds a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Ohio University.

         Eugene T. Starr joined us as President of CONMED Electrosurgery in July
2001. Prior to his employment with us, Mr. Starr served as President of TYCO
Healthcare Group, Canada from October 1999 (when TYCO acquired U.S. Surgical
Corporation) to January 2001. Before his position with TYCO, Mr. Starr spent 17
years with U.S. Surgical, the most recent being Vice President and General
Manager of Auto Suture Co., U.S. Surgical's Canadian subsidiary. Mr. Starr holds
a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Charleston.

         Robert E. Remmell has served as a Director since June 1983. Mr. Remmell
also served as our Assistant Secretary and as a non-employee officer of several
of our subsidiaries from June 1983 until


                                      -44-


March 1, 2000, when he resigned from his position as Assistant Secretary, and
from the positions he had held in our subsidiaries. Mr. Remmell has been a
partner since January 1961 of Steates Remmell Steates & Dziekan, Utica, New
York, which has served as counsel to the Company. Mr. Remmell holds a B.A.
degree from Utica College and an L.L.B. from Syracuse University School of Law.

         Bruce F. Daniels has served as a Director since August 1992. From
August 1974 to June 1997, Mr. Daniels held various executive positions,
including a position as Controller with Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company and he is
currently retired. Mr. Daniels holds a B.S. degree in Business from Utica
College.

         William D. Matthews has served as a Director since August 1997. From
1986 until retiring from the positions in 1999, Mr. Matthews was the Chairman of
the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of Oneida Ltd. Mr. Matthews is a
director of Oneida Financial Corporation and formerly served as a director of
Coyne Textile Services. Mr. Matthews holds a B.A. degree from Union College and
an L.L.B. degree from Cornell University School of Law.

         Stuart J. Schwartz has served as a Director since May 1998. Dr.
Schwartz is a retired physician. From 1969 to December 1997 he was engaged in
private practice as an urologist. Dr. Schwartz holds a B.A. degree from Cornell
University and a M.D. degree from SUNY Upstate Medical College, Syracuse.

         As of March 29, 2002, our executive officers and directors beneficially
owned 2,165,794 shares of our common stock, representing 8.48% of the
outstanding shares of common stock, and are record owners of 521,525 shares of
our common stock, representing 2.04% of the outstanding shares of our common
stock. Giving effect to the offering, and assuming no exercise of the
underwriters' over-allotment option, these ownership percentages would decline
to 7.59% and 1.83%.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

         Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 100,000,000 shares
of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 500,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Common Stock

         As of March 29, 2002, there were 25,549,358 shares of our common stock
issued and outstanding held of record by 1,213 shareholders. As of March 29,
2002, an additional 424,860 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance
under our stock option plans.

         Subject to the preferences, limitations and relative rights of holders
of our preferred stock described below, the holders of our common stock are
entitled, among other things,

o        to share ratably in dividends if, when, and as declared by our board of
         directors out of funds legally available therefore,

o        to one vote for each share held of record on all matters at all
         meetings of shareholders, and

o        in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, to share
         ratably in the distribution of assets remaining after payment of debts
         and expenses.



                                      -45-


Holders of shares of our common stock have no cumulative voting rights or
preemptive rights to subscribe for or purchase any additional shares of capital
stock issued by us. Our transfer agent and registrar is Registrar and Transfer
Company.

         Under New York law, a corporation may declare and pay dividends or make
other distributions in cash or its bonds or its property on its outstanding
shares, except when the corporation is insolvent or would thereby be made
insolvent, or when the declaration, payment or distribution would be contrary to
any restriction contained in the certificate of incorporation. Our certificate
of incorporation contains no such restriction. In general, dividends may be
declared or paid and other distributions may be made out of surplus only, so
that the net assets of the corporation remaining after such declaration, payment
or distribution shall at least equal the amount of its stated capital.

         Our board of directors presently intends to retain future earnings to
finance the development of our business and does not presently intend to declare
cash dividends. Should this policy change, the declaration of cash dividends
will be determined by our board of directors in the light of conditions then
existing, including our financial requirements and condition and provisions
affecting the declaration and payment of dividends contained in debt agreements.
Our credit agreement prohibits the payment of cash dividends and further
subjects us to compliance with various financial covenants.

Preferred Stock

         We are currently authorized to issue up to 500,000 shares of our
preferred stock, none of which is issued and outstanding. Our preferred stock
may be issued in one or more series by our board of directors without further
action by shareholders. Our board of directors is authorized to fix as to any
such series the dividend rate or rates, redemption prices, preferences on
liquidation, dissolution and winding-up, sinking fund terms, if any, conversion
or exchange rights, if any, voting rights and any other preferences or special
rights and qualifications.

         Depending upon the rights of any preferred stock, its issuance could
have an adverse effect on holders of our common stock by delaying or preventing
a change in control, making removal of our present management more difficult or
resulting in restrictions upon the payment of dividends and other distributions
to the holders of our common stock.

Purchase and Cancellation of Warrant Issued to Bristol-Myers Squibb

         In 1997, in connection with the acquisition of Linvatec, we issued to
Bristol-Myers Squibb. Company a warrant exercisable in whole or in part for up
to 1,500,000 shares of our common stock at a price of $22.82 per share. On
April 30, 2002, we agreed to purchase the warrant for $2 million in cash and
upon its repurchase, we intend to cancel it.

                         SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

         As of March 29, 2002, we had outstanding 25,549,358 shares of common
stock. Of those outstanding shares of common stock, 521,525 are beneficially
owned by certain persons who may be deemed "affiliates" of ours for purposes of
Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are not freely tradeable
without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. All of
these shares are eligible for sale in the open market in accordance with Rule
144 under the Securities Act.



                                      -46-


         In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, any person who has
beneficially owned shares for at least one year, including persons who may be
deemed an "affiliate" of ours, is entitled to sell within any three-month period
a number of shares of our common stock that does not exceed the greater of (i)
1% of the then outstanding shares of our common stock or (ii) the average weekly
trading volume in our common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding such
sale. Such sales under Rule 144 are also subject to certain manner of sale
provisions, notice requirements and to the availability of our current public
information. In addition, any person who is not deemed our "affiliate," and who
has beneficially owned his or her shares for at least two years, is entitled to
sell such shares under Rule 144 without regard to the volume limitations, manner
of sale provisions or notice requirements.

         While no predictions can be made of any effect, that open market sales
of shares or the availability of shares for sale will have on the market price
prevailing from time to time, sales of substantial amounts of our common stock
in the public market, or the perception that such sales will occur, could
adversely affect market prices and trading activities in our common stock.


                                      -47-


                                  UNDERWRITING

         Salomon Smith Barney Inc. is acting as sole bookrunning manager and
joint lead manager of the offering, UBS Warburg LLC is acting as joint lead
manager and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and UBS Warburg LLC, together with Needham
& Company, Inc. and First Albany Corporation are acting as representatives of
the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the
underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, each underwriter named
below has agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter,
the number of shares set forth opposite the underwriter's name.

                                                    Number
         Underwriter                               of Shares
         -----------                               ---------

         Salomon Smith Barney Inc...........
         UBS Warburg LLC....................
         Needham & Company, Inc.............
         First Albany Corporation...........
                                                ------------------
                         Total..............       3,000,000
                                                ==================

         The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the
underwriters to purchase the shares included in this offering are subject to
approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters
are obligated to purchase all the shares (other than those covered by the
over-allotment option described below) if they purchase any of the shares.

         The underwriters propose to offer some of the shares directly to the
public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus and some of the shares to dealers at the public offering price less a
concession not to exceed $___ per share. The underwriters may allow, and dealers
may reallow, a concession not to exceed $___ per share on sales to other
dealers. If all of the shares are not sold at the initial offering price, the
representatives may change the public offering price and the other selling
terms.

         We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days
from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 450,000 additional shares of
common stock at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The
underwriters may exercise the option solely for the purpose of covering
over-allotments, if any, in connection with this offering. To the extent the
option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of additional
shares approximately proportionate to that underwriter's initial purchase
commitment.

         We and certain of our officers and directors have agreed that, for a
period of 90 days from the date of this prospectus, subject to certain
exceptions, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Salomon
Smith Barney, dispose of or hedge any shares of our common stock or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. Salomon Smith
Barney in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these
lock-up agreements at any time without notice.

         The common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "CNMD."

         The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions
that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These
amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the
underwriters' option to purchase additional shares of common stock.



                                      -48-


                                         Paid by CONMED
                      -------------------------------------------------
                             No Exercise               Full Exercise
                      -----------------------  ------------------------
Per share........     $                        $
Total............     $                        $

         In connection with the offering, Salomon Smith Barney, on behalf of the
underwriters, may purchase and sell shares of common stock in the open market.
These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactions and
stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate sales of common stock in
excess of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriters in the
offering, which creates a syndicate short position. "Covered" short sales are
sales of shares made in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the
underwriters' over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to
close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider,
among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open
market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the
over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate short
involve either purchases of the common stock in the open market after the
distribution has been completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option.
The underwriters may also make "naked" short sales of shares in excess of the
over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position
by purchasing shares of common stock in the open market. A naked short position
is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be
downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing
that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market while
the offering is in progress.

         The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the
underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when
Salomon Smith Barney repurchases shares originally sold by that syndicate member
in order to cover syndicate short positions or make stabilizing purchases.

         Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding
a decline in the market price of the common stock. They may also cause the price
of the common stock to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in
the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may
conduct these transactions on the Nasdaq National Market or in the
over-the-counter market, or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these
transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

         In addition, in connection with this offering, some of the underwriters
(and selling group members) may engage in passive market making transactions in
the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market, prior to the pricing and
completion of this offering. Passive market making consists of displaying bids
on the Nasdaq National Market no higher than the bid prices of independent
market makers and making purchases at prices no higher than those independent
bids and effected in response to order flow. Net purchases by a passive market
maker on each day are limited to a specified percentage of the passive market
maker's average daily trading volume in the common stock during a specified
period and must be discontinued when the limit is reached. Passive market making
may cause the price of the common stock to be higher than the price that
otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of those transactions.
If the underwriters commence passive market making transactions, they may
discontinue them at any time.

         We estimate that our portion of the total expenses of this offering
will be $_______.

         The underwriters have performed investment banking and advisory and
other services for us from time to time for which they have received customary
fees and expenses. An affiliate of Salomon Smith Barney is a lender and
documentation agent under our credit facility. The underwriters may, from time
to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary
course of their business.



                                      -49-


         A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites
maintained by one or more of the underwriters. The representatives may agree to
allocate a number of shares to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage
account holders. The representatives will allocate shares to underwriters that
may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. In
addition, shares may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who
resell shares to online brokerage account holders.

         We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to
contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any
of those liabilities.

                            VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK

         The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed on for
us by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York, special counsel to the Company,
and for the Underwriters by Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, New York, New
York.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements of CONMED Corporation as of
December 31, 2000 and 2001 and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2001, incorporated herein by reference from our Form 10-K, have
been so included on the reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

The Registration Statement

         We have filed a registration statement with the SEC that registers the
shares offered by this prospectus.

         The registration statement that we filed with the SEC, including the
attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about
CONMED and its shares of common stock. The SEC allows us to omit some
information included in the registration statement from this prospectus. You
should read the entire registration statement in order to obtain this additional
information.

Filings with the SEC

         In addition, we file reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC on a regular basis. You may read and copy this information at the
following locations of the SEC:

                              Public Reference Room
                              450 Fifth Street N.W.
                                    Room 1024
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

         You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public
Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Further information on the operation of the
SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the
SEC at l-800-SEC-0330.



                                      -50-


         The SEC also maintains an Internet world wide web site that contains
reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like CONMED, who
file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is
http://www.sec.gov.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this
prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. This
information incorporated by reference is a part of this prospectus, unless we
provide you with different information in this prospectus.

         This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below
that we have previously filed with the SEC. They contain important information
about CONMED and its financial condition.

o        CONMED's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
         2001 (our "Form 10-K").

o        The description of our common stock contained in our Registration
         Statement on Form 8-A, dated August 5, 1987, filed with the SEC under
         Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or reports
         filed under the Exchange Act for the purpose of updating such
         description.

         This prospectus also incorporates by reference additional documents
that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the time of filing of the initial registration statement and
before effectiveness of the registration statement, and after the date of this
prospectus and before the termination of this offering. These documents include
annual reports, quarterly reports and other current reports, as well as proxy
statements.

         You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this
document from us or from the SEC through the SEC's web site at the address
described above. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us
without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless we specifically
incorporated by reference the exhibit in this prospectus. You can obtain these
documents from us by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following
address or number:

                                    Secretary
                               CONMED Corporation
                                 525 French Road
                           Utica, New York 13502-5994
                            Telephone: (315) 624-3207



                                      -51-


                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Report of Independent Accountants ........................................   F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 2000 and 2001 ....................   F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 1999,
   2000 and 2001 .........................................................   F-4
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended
   December 1999, 2000 and 2001 ..........................................   F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December
   1999, 2000 and 2001 ...................................................   F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ...............................   F-9






                                      F-1


                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of CONMED Corporation

        In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the
related consolidated statements of income, of cash flows and of shareholders'
equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
CONMED Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.  These financial statements
are the responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.  We
conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.



PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Syracuse, New York
February 5, 2002


                                      F-2




                               CONMED CORPORATION
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             DECEMBER 2000 AND 2001
                       (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)


                                                                 2000         2001
                                                              ---------    ---------
                                                                     
ASSETS
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents ............................   $   3,470    $   1,402
     Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
         accounts of $1,479 in 2000 and $1,553 in 2001 ....      78,626       51,188
     Inventories ..........................................     104,612      107,390
     Deferred income taxes ................................       1,761        1,105
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets ............       3,562        3,464
                                                              ---------    ---------
         Total current assets .............................     192,031      164,549
                                                              ---------    ---------
Property, plant and equipment, net ........................      62,450       91,026
Goodwill, net .............................................     225,801      251,140
Other intangible assets, net ..............................     195,008      189,752
Other assets ..............................................       4,281        5,141
                                                              ---------    ---------
         Total assets .....................................   $ 679,571    $ 701,608
                                                              =========    =========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
     Current portion of long-term debt ....................   $  36,068    $  73,429
     Accounts payable .....................................      20,350       19,877
     Accrued compensation .................................       9,913       11,863
     Income taxes payable .................................       1,979        2,507
     Accrued interest .....................................       5,130        4,954
     Other current liabilities ............................       4,836        7,207
                                                              ---------    ---------
         Total current liabilities ........................      78,276      119,837
                                                              ---------    ---------

Long-term debt ............................................     342,680      262,500
Deferred income taxes .....................................      12,154       18,655
Other long-term liabilities ...............................      15,858       16,982
                                                              ---------    ---------
     Total liabilities ....................................     448,968      417,974
                                                              ---------    ---------

Shareholders' equity:
     Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized
         500,000 shares, none outstanding .................        --           --
     Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000
         authorized; 23,028,279 and 25,261,590, issued
         and outstanding in 2000 and 2001, respectively ...         230          253
     Paid-in capital ......................................     127,985      160,757
     Retained earnings ....................................     103,834      128,240
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss .................      (1,027)      (5,197)
     Lss 37,500 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost        (419)        (419)
                                                              ---------    ---------
          Total shareholders' equity .......................    230,603      283,634
                                                              ---------    ---------
         Total liabilities and shareholders' equity .......   $ 679,571    $ 701,608
                                                              =========    =========


                See notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                      F-3




                               CONMED CORPORATION
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 1999, 2000 AND 2001
                     (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)


                                                 1999        2000       2001
                                             ----------- ----------- -----------
Net sales ...............................     $376,226    $395,873    $428,722
                                             ----------- ----------- -----------
Cost of sales ...........................      178,480     188,223     204,374
Selling and administrative expense ......      110,842     128,316     140,560
Research and development expense ........       12,108      14,870      14,830
                                             ----------- ----------- -----------
                                               301,430     331,409     359,764
                                             ----------- ----------- -----------

Income from operations ..................       74,796      64,464      68,958
Interest expense, net ...................       32,360      34,286      30,824
                                             ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before income taxes ..............       42,436      30,178      38,134
Provision for income taxes ..............       15,277      10,864      13,728
                                             ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income ..............................     $ 27,159    $ 19,314    $ 24,406
                                             =========== =========== ===========

PER SHARE DATA:
Net income
     Basic...............................        $ 1.19        $ .84      $ 1.02
     Diluted.............................          1.17          .83        1.00


                See notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                      F-4






                                                         CONMED CORPORATION
                                           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                              YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 1999, 2000 AND 2001
                                                           (IN THOUSANDS)

                                                                                             ACCUMULATED
                                               COMMON STOCK                                     OTHER
                                           --------------------      PAID-IN     RETAINED    COMPREHENSIVE  TREASURY   SHAREHOLDERS'
                                           SHARES       AMOUNT       CAPITAL     EARNINGS    INCOME (LOSS)    STOCK        EQUITY
                                           ------      --------     --------     --------    -------------  ---------  -------------
                                                                                                     
Balance at December 1998 .............     22,775      $    228     $124,963     $ 57,361     $     35      $   (419)     $182,168
   Exercise of stock options .........        182             2        1,610                                                 1,612
   Tax benefit arising from
     exercise of stock
     options .........................                                   744                                                   744
   Comprehensive income:
     Foreign currency
     translation adjustments .........                                                            (422)
     Net income ......................                                             27,159
Total comprehensive income ...........                                                                                      26,737
                                           ------      --------     --------     --------    -------------  ---------  -------------

Balance at December 1999 .............     22,957           230      127,317       84,520         (387)         (419)      211,261
   Exercise of stock options .........         72                        449                                                   449
   Tax benefit arising from
     exercise of stock
     options .........................                      219                                                                219
   Comprehensive income:
     Foreign currency
     translation adjustments .........                                                            (640)
     Net income ......................                                             19,314
   Total comprehensive
     income ..........................                                                                                      18,674
                                           ------      --------     --------     --------    -------------  ---------  -------------

Balance at December 2000 .............     23,029           230      127,985      103,834       (1,027)         (419)      230,603


                                                             (continued)


                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                  (continued)

                                      F-5





                                                         CONMED CORPORATION
                                           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                              YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 1999, 2000 AND 2001
                                                           (IN THOUSANDS)

                                                                                             ACCUMULATED
                                               COMMON STOCK                                     OTHER
                                           --------------------      PAID-IN     RETAINED    COMPREHENSIVE  TREASURY   SHAREHOLDERS'
                                           SHARES       AMOUNT       CAPITAL     EARNINGS    INCOME (LOSS)    STOCK        EQUITY
                                           ------      --------    ---------    ---------    ------------- ----------  -------------
                                                                                                    
Exercise of stock options .............       259            3        1,827                                                 1,830
Tax benefit arising from
   exercise of stock options ..........                                 604                                                   604
Stock issued in connection
   with business
   acquisitions .......................     1,974           20       30,341                                                30,361

Comprehensive income:
   Foreign currency
   translation adjustments ............                                                        (1,142)
   Cash flow hedging (net
   of income tax benefit
   of $1,106) .........................                                                        (1,966)
   Minimum pension
   liability (net of income
   tax benefit of $597) ...............                                                        (1,062)
   Net income .........................                                           24,406

Total comprehensive income ............                                                                                    20,236
                                           ------      --------    ---------    ---------    ------------- ----------  -------------

Balance at December 2001 ..............    25,262      $   253     $160,757     $128,240     $ (5,197)     $   (419)     $283,634
                                           ======      ========    =========    =========    ============= ==========  =============



                See notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                      F-6






                                            CONMED CORPORATION
                                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 1999, 2000 AND 2001
                                              (IN THOUSANDS)

                                                                         1999        2000        2001
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
                                                                                      
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income ......................................................   $ 27,159    $ 19,314    $ 24,406
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
   provided by operations:
   Depreciation ....................................................      9,207       9,434       9,055
   Amortization ....................................................     17,084      20,053      21,093
   Deferred income taxes ...........................................      8,978       7,974       8,562
   Increase (decrease) in cash flows from changes
     in assets and liabilities, net of effects from
     acquisitions:
      Proceeds from accounts receivable the sale of ................       --          --        40,000
      Accounts receivable ..........................................     (9,192)     (2,166)    (12,508)
      Inventories ..................................................     (9,086)    (18,035)     (4,235)
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets ....................       (799)      1,811          46
      Accounts payable .............................................     (3,060)      3,824        (516)
      Income taxes payable .........................................      1,242       2,295        (281)
      Income tax benefit of stock option exercises .................        744         219         604
      Accrued compensation .........................................         (7)        255       1,950
      Accrued interest .............................................     (1,481)        542        (290)
      Other assets/liabilities, net ................................     (3,348)     (9,570)    (10,737)
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
                                                                         10,282      16,636      52,743
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
      Net cash provided by operations ..............................     37,441      35,950      77,149
                                                                       --------    --------    --------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Payments related to business acquisitions .......................    (40,585)     (6,042)       --
   Purchases of property, plant and equipment ......................     (9,352)    (14,050)    (14,443)
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
      Net cash used by investing activities ........................    (49,937)    (20,092)    (14,443)
                                                                       --------    --------    --------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Proceeds of long-term debt ......................................     40,900        --          --
   Borrowings (repayments) under revolving credit
      facility .....................................................     (8,000)     17,000      11,000
   Proceeds from issuance of common stock ..........................      1,612         449       1,830
   Payments related to issuance of long-term debt ..................       (661)       --          --
   Payments on long-term debt ......................................    (23,103)    (32,921)    (76,423)
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
      Net cash provided (used) by financing
        activities .................................................     10,748     (15,472)    (63,593)
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
   equivalents .....................................................       (411)       (663)     (1,181)
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents ..........................     (2,159)       (277)     (2,068)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year .....................      5,906       3,747       3,470
                                                                       --------    --------    --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ...........................   $  3,747    $  3,470    $  1,402
                                                                       ========    ========    ========


                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                  (continued)


                                      F-7




                                                                                      
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
   Cash paid during the year for:
   Interest ........................................................   $ 32,662    $ 33,788    $ 31,135
   Income taxes ....................................................      4,502       4,141       2,098



Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:

As more fully described in Note 2, we acquired a business in 2001 through the
exchange of 1,950,000 shares of our common stock valued at $29.9 million.

As more fully described in Note 2, we acquired certain property in 2001 through
the assumption of approximately $22.7 million of debt and accrued interest.



                See notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                       F-8




                               CONMED CORPORATION
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 1 -- OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

         The consolidated  financial  statements  include the accounts of CONMED
Corporation and its subsidiaries  ("CONMED",  the "Company",  "we" or "us"). All
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.  CONMED Corporation
is a medical technology company specializing in instruments,  implants and video
equipment for  arthroscopic  sports medicine,  and powered surgical  instruments
(drills  and saws),  for  orthopaedic,  ENT,  neuro-surgery  and other  surgical
specialties.  We are also a leading  developer,  manufacturer  and  supplier  of
advanced medical devices,  including RF electrosurgery systems used routinely to
cut and cauterize tissue in nearly all types of surgical  procedures  worldwide,
endoscopy  products  such as  trocars,  clip  appliers,  scissors  and  surgical
staplers,  and a full  line of ECG  electrodes  for heart  monitoring  and other
patient care products.  Our products are used in a variety of clinical settings,
such as operating rooms, surgery centers,  physicians' offices and critical care
areas of hospitals.

USE OF ESTIMATES

         The  preparation of financial  statements in conformity with accounting
principles   generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  of  America  requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities  and the disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities
at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses  during the reporting  period.  Actual  results could differ from those
estimates.

CASH EQUIVALENTS

         We consider all highly liquid  investments with an original maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SALE

         On November 1, 2001,  we entered into a five-year  accounts  receivable
sales agreement  pursuant to which we and certain of our subsidiaries sell on an
ongoing basis certain  accounts  receivable  to CONMED  Receivables  Corporation
("CRC"), a wholly-owned  special-purpose  subsidiary of CONMED Corporation.  CRC
may in turn sell up to an aggregate $50.0 million undivided percentage ownership
interest in such  receivables to a commercial  paper conduit (the  "purchaser").
For receivables  which have been sold,  CONMED  Corporation and its subsidiaries
retain  collection  and  administrative   responsibilities   as  agent  for  the
purchaser.  As of December 2001, the undivided  percentage ownership interest in
receivables sold by CRC to a commercial paper conduit  aggregated $40.0 million,
which has been  accounted  for as a sale and reflected in the balance sheet as a
reduction in accounts receivable.  We used the initial $40.0 million in proceeds
from the sale of accounts  receivable  to repay a portion of our loans under our
credit  facility.  Expenses  associated  with the sale of  accounts  receivable,
including the purchaser's  financing cost of issuing  commercial paper, were $.2
million in 2001.

         There are certain  statistical ratios which must be maintained relating
to the pool of  receivables  in  order to  continue  selling  to the  purchaser.
Management  believes that additional  accounts  receivable arising in the normal
course of business  will be of  sufficient  quality and  quantity to qualify for
sale  under the  accounts  receivable  sales  agreement.  In the event  that new
accounts  receivable arising in the normal course of business do not qualify for


                                      F-9


sale, then  collections on sold  receivables  will flow to the purchaser  rather
than  being used to fund new  receivable  purchases.  If this were to occur,  we
would need to access an alternate source of working capital.

INVENTORIES

         Inventories  are  stated at the  lower of cost or  market,  cost  being
determined on the first-in, first-out basis.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

         Property,  plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated using
the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

         Building and improvements..        40 years
         Leasehold improvements.....        Remaining life of lease
         Machinery and equipment....        2 to 15 years

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

         Goodwill  represents  the excess of  purchase  price over fair value of
identifiable  net  assets  of  acquired  businesses.   Other  intangible  assets
primarily  represent  allocations of purchase price to  identifiable  intangible
assets of acquired  businesses.  Goodwill and other intangible  assets have been
amortized  over periods  ranging  from 5 to 40 years.  Because of our history of
growth through  acquisitions,  goodwill and other  intangible  assets comprise a
substantial portion (62.8% at December 2001) of our total assets.

         In  June  2001,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  approved
Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  142  "Goodwill  and  Other
Intangible  Assets" ("SFAS 142"). We adopted SFAS 142 effective January 1, 2002.
Under this standard, amortization of goodwill and certain intangibles, including
certain intangibles recorded as a result of past business combinations, is to be
discontinued  upon  adoption  of SFAS 142.  In  addition,  goodwill  and certain
intangibles recorded as a result of business  combinations  completed during the
six-month period ending December 2001 have not been amortized.  All goodwill and
intangible  assets  are being  tested  for  impairment  in  accordance  with the
provisions of SFAS 142. No impairment  losses are expected to be recognized as a
result of the tests.  While we are still assessing the effect of the adoption of
SFAS 142,  management believes that had SFAS 142 been in effect during 2001, net
income would have increased by approximately $5.5 million or $.22 per share.

         Accumulated  amortization  of  goodwill  amounted  to  $23,340,000  and
$29,941,000 at December 2000 and 2001, respectively. Other intangible assets are
comprised of the following (in thousands):

                                                        2000              2001
                                                     ---------        ----------
Customer relationships .......................       $  96,712        $  96,712
Trademarks and tradenames ....................          95,715           95,715
Patents and other intangible assets ..........          31,479           35,465
                                                     ---------        ----------
                                                       223,906          227,892

Less:  Accumulated amortization ..............         (28,898)         (38,140)
                                                     ---------        ----------

Other intangible assets, net .................       $ 195,008        $ 189,752
                                                     =========        ==========


                                      F-10


DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

         We do not trade in derivative securities. We do use interest rate swaps
to manage the interest risk associated with our variable rate debt. We accounted
for our interest rate swaps on the accrual method at December 2000,  whereby the
net  interest  receivable  or payable  is  recognized  on a  periodic  basis and
included as a component of interest expense.

         Effective January 1, 2001, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard No. 133, Accounting for Derivative  Instruments and Hedging Activities,
("SFAS  133").  SFAS 133 requires  that  derivatives  be recorded on the balance
sheet as  assets  or  liabilities,  measured  at fair  value.  Gains  or  losses
resulting  from the changes in the values of the  derivatives  are accounted for
depending  on  whether  the  derivative  qualifies  for hedge  accounting.  Upon
adoption  of SFAS 133,  we  recorded a  net-of-tax  cumulative-effect-type  loss
adjustment of $971,000 in accumulated other comprehensive income to recognize at
fair value an interest rate swap which we have  designated as a cash-flow  hedge
and which  effectively  converts  $50,000,000 of LIBOR-based  floating rate debt
under our credit  facility  into fixed  rate debt with a base  interest  rate of
7.01%.  Including the cumulative effect loss adjustment  related to the adoption
of SFAS 133, total gross holding losses during 2001 related to the interest rate
swap  aggregated  $4,415,000  before income taxes, of which  $1,343,000,  before
income  taxes,  has been  reclassified  and  included in net income.  Management
estimates approximately $2,000,000, before income taxes, of gross holding losses
will be reclassified and included in net income in 2002.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

         The fair  values  of cash and cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable,
accounts payable,  and interest rate swaps  approximates  their carrying amount.
The estimated fair values and carrying  amounts of long-term debt are as follows
(in thousands):

                                           2000                    2001
                                  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                   CARRYING                CARRYING
                                    AMOUNT    FAIR VALUE    AMOUNT    FAIR VALUE
                                  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Long-term debt (including
current maturities).............  $(378,748)  $(352,748)  $(335,929)  $(338,529)

Fair values were  determined  from quoted market prices or discounted  cash flow
analysis.

TRANSLATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         Assets and  liabilities of foreign  subsidiaries  have been  translated
into United States dollars at the applicable  rates of exchange in effect at the
end of the period  reported.  Revenues and expenses have been  translated at the
applicable  weighted  average  rates of  exchange  in effect  during  the period
reported.   Translation   adjustments   are  reflected  in   accumulated   other
comprehensive  income (loss).  Any transaction  gains and losses are included in
net income.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

         Revenue is  recognized  when title to the goods and risk of loss pass
to our customers. Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling
are included in net sales.  Shipping and handling costs were  $9,450,000,
$8,125,000 and $8,559,000 for the years ended December 1999, 2000 and 2001,
respectively, and are included in  selling  and  administrative  expense.  We
sell  to a  diversified  base of customers  around  the  world  and,  therefore,
believe  there  is no  material concentration of credit risk. We assess the risk
of loss on accounts  receivable and adjust the allowance for doubtful  accounts
based on this risk  assessment. Historically,  losses on accounts receivable
have not been material.  Management believes the allowance  for doubtful
accounts of $1,553,000 at December 2001 is adequate to provide for any potential
losses from accounts receivable.


                                     F-11


EARNINGS PER SHARE

         Basic  earnings  per share  ("EPS") is computed  based on the  weighted
average number of common shares  outstanding  for the period.  Diluted EPS gives
effect to all dilutive potential shares outstanding (i.e., options and warrants)
during the period.  The following is a  reconciliation  of the weighted  average
shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS (in thousands):

                                                   1999        2000        2001
                                                  ------      ------     -------
Shares used in the calculation
   of basic EPS (weighted
   average shares outstanding) .............      22,862      22,967      24,045
Effect of dilutive potential
   securities ..............................         283         304         356
                                                  ------      ------     -------
Shares used in the calculation
   of diluted EPS ..........................      23,145      23,271      24,401

         The shares used in the calculation of diluted EPS exclude  warrants and
options to purchase shares where the exercise price was greater than the average
market price of common shares for the year.  Such shares  aggregated  1,989,000,
3,396,000 and 2,842,000 at December 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively.

RECLASSIFICATIONS

         Certain prior year amounts have been  reclassified  to conform with the
presentation used in 2001.

NOTE 2 -- BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS

         On August 11, 1999, we purchased certain assets of the powered surgical
instrument business of 3M Company (the "Powered  Instrument  acquisition") for a
purchase  price  of  $40.0  million.  The  purchase  price  was  funded  through
borrowings   under  our  credit  facility  (Note  5).  The  Powered   Instrument
acquisition  was accounted for using the purchase method in which the results of
operations  of the acquired  business are included in our  consolidated  results
from the date of  acquisition.  The acquired  products,  with annual revenues of
approximately $20.0 million, complement our existing powered surgical instrument
business. Goodwill associated with the Powered Instrument acquisition aggregated
approximately $34.0 million and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over
a 40-year period.  In connection  with the Powered  Instrument  acquisition,  we
increased the acquired  value of inventory by $1.6 million.  This  inventory was
sold  during the quarter  ended  September  1999  resulting  in a  non-recurring
adjustment to increase cost of sales during 1999 by $1.6 million. As a result of
the adoption of SFAS 142,  amortization of goodwill  associated with the Powered
Instrument acquisition has been discontinued effective January 1, 2002 (Note 1).

         On  November  20,  2000 we acquired  certain  assets of the  disposable
minimally invasive surgical business of Imagyn Medical  Technologies,  Inc. (the
"Imagyn  acquisition")  for  a  purchase  price  of  $6.0  million.  The  Imagyn
acquisition  was accounted for using the purchase method in which the results of
operations  of the acquired  business are included in our  consolidated  results
from the date of  acquisition.  The  acquisition  was funded through  borrowings
under our revolving credit facility (Note 5). The acquired products, with annual
sales of approximately $5.0 million,  complement our existing minimally invasive
surgical  products  business.  Goodwill  associated with the Imagyn  acquisition
aggregated  approximately $4.8 million and is being amortized on a straight-line
basis  over a 40-year  period.  The Imagyn  acquisition  did not have a material
effect on earnings per share in the year ended December 2000. As a result of the
adoption  of SFAS 142,  amortization  of  goodwill  associated  with the  Imagyn
acquisition has been discontinued effective January 1, 2002 (Note 1).

         On June 11,  2001,  we reached a  definitive  agreement  to acquire the
remaining assets of the minimally  invasive  surgical business of Imagyn Medical
Technologies,  Inc. that we did not acquire in November 2000 (the "second Imagyn
acquisition").  The results of operations of the acquired  business are included
in our consolidated results from July 6, 2001, the date of acquisition.  The new
products,  with expected annual  revenues of $18.0 to



                                      F-12


$20.0 million,  complement our existing  minimally  invasive  surgical  products
business.  Under  the  terms of the  acquisition  agreement,  we  issued  Imagyn
1,950,000  shares of CONMED  common  stock,  valuing  the  transaction  at $29.9
million  based on the average  market  price of our common  stock over the 2-day
period  before  and  after  the  terms of the  acquisition  were  agreed  to and
announced.  Goodwill  associated with the second Imagyn  acquisition  aggregated
approximately  $26.7 million.  In accordance  with the transition  provisions of
SFAS 142, this goodwill has not been amortized.  As discussed in Note 11, during
the third and fourth  quarters of 2001 we incurred  certain  nonrecurring  costs
aggregating  approximately  $1.5 million in  connection  with the second  Imagyn
acquisition  which are included in cost of sales. The second Imagyn  acquisition
did not have a material  effect on earnings per share in the year ended December
2001.

         On August 3, 2001, we purchased the real estate  partnerships which own
the Largo,  Florida property leased by our Linvatec  subsidiary for an aggregate
purchase price of $22.7 million (the "Largo  acquisition").  In connection  with
the  acquisition,  we assumed the existing debt on the property and financed the
remainder with the seller (Note 5).

NOTE 3 -- INVENTORIES

         The components of inventory are as follows (in thousands):

                                                  2000            2001
                                             ------------    -------------
         Raw materials ................        $ 38,278        $ 38,101
         Work in process ..............          12,612          11,921
         Finished goods ...............          53,722          57,368
                                             ------------    -------------
                                               $104,612        $107,390
                                             ============    =============

NOTE 4 -- PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

         Details of property, plant and equipment are as follows (in thousands):

                                                   2000         2001
                                                ---------    ---------
         Land ...............................   $   1,511    $   4,004
         Building and improvements ..........      27,686       67,951
         Machinery and equipment ............      63,970       68,284
         Construction in progress ...........      12,283        1,955
                                                ---------    ---------
                                                  105,450      142,194
             Less:  Accumulated depreciation      (43,000)     (51,168)
                                                ---------    ---------
                                                $  62,450    $  91,026
                                                =========    =========

         We lease  various  manufacturing  and office  facilities  and equipment
under  operating   leases.   Rental  expense  on  these  operating   leases  was
approximately $2,935,000, $3,376,000 and $2,756,000 for the years ended December
1999,  2000  and  2001,   respectively.   The  aggregate  future  minimum  lease
commitments for operating leases at December 2001 are as follows:

           YEAR ENDING DECEMBER (IN THOUSANDS):
           2002.....................................   $  1,624
           2003.....................................      1,255
           2004.....................................      1,036
           2005.....................................        962
           2006.....................................        933
           Thereafter...............................      1,950


                                      F-13



NOTE 5 -- LONG TERM DEBT

         We  have  a  credit  agreement  with  several  banks  providing  for  a
$490,000,000 senior credit facility.  The senior credit facility is comprised of
four  sub-facilities:  (i) a  $210,000,000  five-year  term loan with  quarterly
principal  repayments;  (ii) a $140,000,000  seven-year term loan with quarterly
principal  repayments;  (iii) a $40,000,000  six-year  term loan with  quarterly
principal  repayments;  and (iv) a $100,000,000  revolving credit facility.  The
revolving  credit  facility  expires on December 30, 2002 and therefore has been
classified  in the  current  portion of  long-term  debt;  it is  expected to be
renegotiated  during 2002. During the commitment period, we are obligated to pay
a fee of .375% per annum on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility.
As  of  December  2001,  we  had  $13,300,000,   $77,220,000,   $34,340,000  and
$58,000,000 outstanding under the five-year term loan, the seven-year term loan,
the six year term loan and the revolving credit facility, respectively.

         The  borrowings  under the senior credit  facility carry interest rates
based on a spread over LIBOR or an alternative base interest rate. The covenants
of the senior  credit  facility  provide for  increases  and  decreases  to this
interest  rate spread  based on our  operating  results.  Additionally,  certain
events  of  default  under the  credit  facility  limit  interest  rate  options
available to us. The weighted  average interest rates at December 2001 under the
five-year term loan,  the  seven-year  term loan, the six year term loan and the
revolving credit facility, were 4.00%, 4.43%, 4.60% and 3.93%, respectively.

         The term debt and  revolving  credit  facility  are  collateralized  by
substantially all of our personal  property and assets,  except for our accounts
receivable and related rights which are pledged in connection  with the accounts
receivable sales agreement discussed in Note 1. The agreement contains covenants
and  restrictions  which,  among other things,  require  maintenance  of certain
working  capital levels and financial  ratios,  prohibit  dividend  payments and
restrict the incurrence of certain indebtedness and other activities,  including
acquisitions  and   dispositions.   We  are  also  required  to  make  mandatory
prepayments  from net cash  proceeds  from any issue of equity and asset  sales.
Mandatory  prepayments  are to be applied  first to the  prepayment  of the term
loans and then to reduce borrowings under the revolving credit facility.

         The debt assumed in  connection  with the Largo  acquisition  (Note 2),
consists of a note bearing interest at 7.50% per annum with semiannual  payments
of  principal  and interest  through June 2009 (the "Class A note");  and a note
bearing interest at 8.25% per annum compounded  semiannually  through June 2009,
after which  semiannual  payments  of  principal  and  interest  will  commence,
continuing  through  June 2019 (the  "Class C note").  Additionally,  there is a
seller-financed  note  which  bears  interest  at 6.50% per annum  with  monthly
payments of principal and interest  through July 2013 (the "Seller  note").  The
principal  balances  assumed on the Class A note,  Class C note and Seller  note
aggregate $12,185,000,  $6,191,000 and $4,228,000,  respectively, at the date of
acquisition.   The  principal   balances   outstanding   related  to  the  Largo
acquisition, aggregated $11,724,000, $6,402,000 and $4,157,000, at December 2001
on the  Class A note,  Class C note and  Seller  note  respectively.  The  Largo
acquisition related debt is collateralized by, among other things,  recorded and
unrecorded mortgage liens on the Largo property.

         We have  $130,000,000  of 9% Senior  Subordinated  Notes (the  "Notes")
outstanding.  The Notes mature on March 15, 2008, unless previously  redeemed by
us. Interest on the Notes is payable  semi-annually on March 15 and September 15
of each year. The Notes are redeemable for cash at anytime on or after March 15,
2003,  at our option,  in whole or in part, at the  redemption  prices set forth
therein, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

         As  discussed  in Note  1,  we use an  interest  rate  swap,  a form of
derivative  financial  instrument,   to  manage  interest  rate  risk.  We  have
designated  as a  cash-flow  hedge,  an  interest  rate swap  which  effectively
converts  $50,000,000 of LIBOR-based  floating rate debt under our senior credit
facility into fixed rate debt with a base


                                      F-14



interest  rate of 7.01%.  The  interest  rate swap  expires  in June 2003 and is
included in  liabilities  on the balance  sheet with a fair value  approximating
$3,072,000.

         Excluding the revolving  credit  facility which expires and is expected
to  be  renegotiated  in  2002,  the  scheduled  maturities  of  long-term  debt
outstanding at December 2001 are as follows:

           YEAR ENDING DECEMBER (IN THOUSANDS):
           2002.....................................   $  15,429
           2003.....................................      43,364
           2004.....................................      36,749
           2005.....................................      35,181
           2006.....................................       1,943
           Thereafter...............................     145,263

NOTE 6 -- INCOME TAXES

         The  provision   for  income  taxes   consists  of  the  following  (in
thousands):

                                                 1999         2000         2001
                                               -------      -------      -------
Current tax expense:
   Federal ..............................      $ 5,027      $ 1,634      $ 3,565
   State ................................          350          300          400
   Foreign ..............................          922          956        1,201
                                               -------      -------      -------
                                                 6,299        2,890        5,166
Deferred income tax expense .............        8,978        7,974        8,562
                                               -------      -------      -------
   Provision for income taxes ...........      $15,277      $10,864      $13,728
                                               =======      =======      =======

         A reconciliation between income taxes computed at the statutory federal
rate and the provision for income taxes follows (in thousands):

                                                 1999         2000        2001
                                               --------    ---------   ---------
Tax provision at statutory
   rate based on income before
   income taxes and extraordinary
   item ....................................   $ 14,853    $ 10,562    $ 13,347
Foreign sales corporation ..................       (543)       (725)       (894)
State taxes ................................        257         180         270
Nondeductible intangible amortization ......        320         321         320
Other nondeductible permanent
   differences .............................        270         200         220
Other, net .................................        120         326         465
                                               --------    ---------   ---------
                                               $ 15,277    $ 10,864    $ 13,728
                                               ========    =========   =========

         The tax effects of the significant temporary differences which comprise
the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 2000 and 2001 are as follows
(in thousands):

                                                            2000         2001
                                                          --------     ---------
Assets:
      Receivables ....................................    $    138     $    225
      Inventory ......................................       1,115          870
      Deferred compensation ..........................         761          943
      Employee benefits ..............................         221          428
      Deferred rent ..................................         570         --


                                      F-15



      Additional minimum pension liability ...........        --            597
      Interest rate swap .............................        --          1,106
      Other ..........................................       1,011          164
      Net operating losses of acquired subsidiary ....       3,834        3,410
      Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets ....      (3,834)      (3,410)
                                                          --------     ---------
                                                             3,816        4,333
                                                          --------     ---------

Liabilities:
      Goodwill and intangible assets .................      11,559       17,757
      Depreciation ...................................       2,650        4,126
                                                          --------     ---------
                                                            14,209       21,883
                                                          --------     ---------

Net liability ........................................    $(10,393)    $(17,550)
                                                          ========     =========

         Net operating  losses related to an acquisition  are subject to certain
limitations and expire over the period 2008 to 2010.  Management has established
a valuation  allowance of $3,410,000 to reflect the uncertainty of realizing the
benefit of certain of these carryforwards.

NOTE 7 -- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

         The shareholders have authorized 500,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $.01 per share,  which may be issued in one or more series by the Board of
Directors  without further action by the  shareholders.  As of December 2001, no
preferred stock had been issued.

         On August 8, 2001,  our Board of  Directors  declared  a  three-for-two
split of our common stock to be effected in the form of a common stock dividend.
This  dividend  was payable on September  7, 2001 to  shareholders  of record on
August 21, 2001.  Accordingly,  common stock, the number of shares  outstanding,
earnings per share,  incentive  stock  option  activity and the number of shares
used in the  calculation  of  earnings  per  share  have  all been  restated  to
retroactively reflect the split.

         In connection  with the 1997  acquisition of Linvatec  Corporation,  we
issued to  Bristol-Myers  Squibb  Company a  ten-year  warrant to  purchase  1.5
million shares of our common stock at a price of $22.82 per share.

         We have  reserved  shares of common stock for issuance to employees and
directors under four stock option plans (the "Plans"). The exercise price on all
outstanding options is equal to the quoted fair market value of the stock at the
date of  grant.  Stock  options  are  non-transferable  other  than on death and
generally  become  exercisable  over a five year  period  from date of grant and
expire ten years from date of grant.


                                      F-16


         The following is a summary of incentive stock option activity under the
Plans (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                                                                WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
                                             NUMBER OF SHARES    EXERCISE PRICE
                                             ----------------   ----------------
Outstanding at December 1998.............         2,250             $  11.93
      Granted during 1999................           602                19.75
      Forfeited..........................           (14)               15.27
      Exercised..........................          (182)                8.88
                                             ----------------   ----------------

Outstanding at December 1999.............         2,656                13.96
      Granted during 2000................           684                14.05
      Forfeited..........................          (209)               17.20
      Exercised..........................           (72)                6.23
                                             ----------------   ----------------

Outstanding at December 2000.............         3,059                13.91
      Granted during 2001................           709                15.59
      Forfeited..........................           (75)               18.86
      Exercised..........................          (259)                7.07
                                             ----------------   ----------------

Outstanding at December 2001.............         3,434             $  14.69
                                             ================   ================

Exercisable:
      December 1999......................         1,418             $  10.89
      December 2000......................         1,674                12.31
      December 2001......................         1,954                13.59




                     STOCK OPTIONS    WEIGHTED AVERAGE      WEIGHTED      STOCK OPTIONS        WEIGHTED
RANGE OF EXERCISE    OUTSTANDING AT     REMAINING LIFE       AVERAGE      EXERCISABLE AT       AVERAGE
     PRICES          DECEMBER 2001        (YEARS)        EXERCISE PRICE    DECEMBER 2001    EXERCISE PRICE
-----------------    --------------   ----------------   --------------   --------------    --------------
                                                                                
Less than $5.00          42,000             1.6             $  3.57           42,000           $  3.57
$5.00 to $7.50          392,000             1.5                7.05          392,000              7.05
$7.50 to $10.00         287,000             7.8                9.01          224,000              8.97
$10.00 to $15.00        905,000             8.0               13.83          287,000             13.25
$15.00 to $17.50      1,000,000             6.6               16.36          638,000             16.34
$17.50 to $20.00        471,000             7.6               19.05          222,000             19.31
$20.00 to $23.00        337,000             7.4               21.07          149,000             20.87


         Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 123,  "Accounting for
Stock-Based  Compensation"  ("SFAS  123")  defines a fair value based  method of
accounting for an employee stock option whereby compensation cost is measured at
the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is  recognized  over the
service  period.  A  company  may elect to adopt  SFAS 123 or elect to  continue
accounting  for its stock  option or similar  equity  awards using the method of
accounting  prescribed by Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion  ("APB") No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees",  where compensation cost is measured
at the date of grant based on the excess of the market  value of the  underlying
stock over the  exercise  price.  We have elected to continue to account for our
stock-based   compensation  plans  under  the  provisions  of  APB  No.  25.  No
compensation   expense  has  been  recognized  in  the  accompanying   financial
statements relative to our stock option plans.


                                      F-17



         Pro forma  information  regarding  net income and earnings per share is
required  by SFAS 123 and has been  determined  as if we had  accounted  for our
employee  stock  options  under the fair  value  method of that  statement.  The
weighted average fair value of options granted in 1999, 2000 and 2001 was $8.85,
$8.55 and $7.39, respectively.  The fair value of these options was estimated at
the date of grant using a Black-Scholes options pricing model with the following
weighted-average  assumptions  for  options  granted  in 1999,  2000  and  2001,
respectively:  Risk-free  interest rates of 6.46%,  5.06% and 4.38%;  volatility
factors of the expected  market price of the  Company's  common stock of 39.23%,
68.01% and 48.04%; a weighted-average expected life of the option of five years;
and that no dividends would be paid on common stock.

         For purposes of the pro forma disclosures,  the estimated fair value of
the options is  amortized  to expense  over the  options'  vesting  period.  The
Company's pro forma information  follows (in thousands,  except for earnings per
share information):

                                        1999           2000           2001
                                      -------        -------        -------
Net income - as reported........      $27,159        $19,314        $24,406
Net income - pro forma..........       24,678         16,167         21,561

EPS - as reported:
     Basic......................         1.19            .84           1.02
     Diluted....................         1.17            .83           1.00

EPS - pro forma
     Basic......................         1.08            .70            .90
     Diluted....................         1.07            .69            .88


NOTE 8 -- BUSINESS SEGMENTS, GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS

         CONMED's  business is organized,  managed and internally  reported as a
single segment comprised of medical instruments and systems used in surgical and
other medical  procedures.  We believe our product lines have similar  economic,
operating and other related characteristics.

         The  following  is net  sales  information  for  geographic  areas  (in
thousands):

                                          1999            2000            2001
                                        --------        --------        --------
United States ..................        $285,048        $288,514        $306,306
All other countries ............          91,178         107,359         122,416
                                        --------        --------        --------
Total ..........................        $376,226        $395,873        $428,722
                                        ========        ========        ========

         There were no  significant  investments  in long-lived  assets  located
outside the United States at December 2000 and 2001.

NOTE 9 -- PENSION PLANS

         We maintain defined benefit plans covering substantially all employees.
We make annual contributions to the plans equal to the maximum deduction allowed
for federal income tax purposes.


                                      F-18



         Net  pension  cost  for  1999,  2000 and 2001  included  the  following
components (in thousands):

                                                1999         2000         2001
                                              -------      -------      --------
Service cost - benefits earned
  during the period .....................     $ 2,592      $ 2,658      $ 3,622
Interest cost on projected benefit
  obligation ............................       1,349        1,608        1,785
Expected return on plan assets ..........      (1,090)      (1,121)      (1,211)
Net amortization and deferral ...........          41           21          166
                                              -------      -------      --------
Net pension cost ........................     $ 2,892      $ 3,166      $ 4,362
                                              =======      =======      ========

         The  following  table sets forth the plans'  funded  status and amounts
recognized  in the  consolidated  balance  sheets at December  2000 and 2001 (in
thousands):


                                                            2000          2001
                                                          --------     ---------
CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year ....    $ 19,737     $ 22,949
Service cost .........................................       2,658        3,622
Interest cost ........................................       1,608        1,785
Actuarial loss (gain) ................................       2,834        4,597
Benefits paid ........................................      (3,888)      (3,205)
                                                          --------     ---------
Projected benefit obligation at end of year ..........    $ 22,949     $ 29,748
                                                          --------     ---------

CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year .......    $ 12,759     $ 13,077
Actual return on plan assets .........................         312          432
Employer contribution ................................       3,894        6,659
Benefits paid ........................................      (3,888)      (3,205)
                                                          --------     ---------
Fair value of plan assets at end of year .............    $ 13,077     $ 16,963
                                                          --------     ---------

CHANGE IN FUNDED STATUS
Funded status ........................................    $  9,872     $ 12,785
Unrecognized net actuarial loss ......................      (3,837)      (9,062)
Unrecognized transition liability ....................         (60)         (56)
Unrecognized prior service cost ......................        (151)        (140)
Additional minimum pension liability .................        --          1,659
                                                          --------     ---------
Accrued pension cost .................................    $  5,824     $  5,186
                                                          ========     =========

         For 1999, 2000 and 2001 actuarial  calculation  purposes,  the weighted
average discount rate was 7.0%, 7.5% and 7.0%,  respectively,  the expected long
term rate of return  was 8.0% and the rate of  increase  in future  compensation
levels was 4.5%.

         The projected benefit  obligation,  accumulated  benefit obligation and
fair  value  of plan  assets  for the  pension  plan  with  accumulated  benefit
obligations  in  excess  of  plan  assets  were  $16,447,000,   $11,672,000  and
$8,087,000  respectively,  as of December  2001.  CONMED  common stock valued at
$315,000  and  $550,000  was  held by the  plans  at  December  2000  and  2001,
respectively.

NOTE 10 -- LEGAL MATTERS

         From  time to time,  we have  been  named  as a  defendant  in  certain
lawsuits  alleging  product  liability,  patent  infringement,  or other  claims
incurred in the ordinary course of business. Certain of these claims are


                                      F-19



covered by various insurance policies, subject to deductible amounts and maximum
policy limits.  Ultimate liability with respect to these contingencies,  if any,
is not considered to be material to the consolidated financial statements of the
Company.

NOTE 11 -- UNUSUAL ITEMS

         During the quarter ended December 1999, we recognized a benefit related
to a  previously  recorded  litigation  accrual  which was settled on  favorable
terms. This nonrecurring benefit amounted to $1,256,000, before income taxes, or
$.03 per diluted share and is included in selling and administrative expense.

         During the quarter  ended June 2000,  we announced we would replace our
arthroscopy direct sales force with  non-stocking,  exclusive sales agent groups
in certain  geographic  regions of the United States. As a result, we incurred a
severance charge of $1,509,000,  before income taxes, or $.04 per diluted share,
in the second quarter of 2000. This  nonrecurring  charge is included in selling
and administrative expense.

         As discussed  in Note 2, during the third and fourth  quarters of 2001,
we incurred  certain  charges  related to the second Imagyn  acquisition.  These
costs were primarily  related to the transition in  manufacturing  of the Imagyn
product lines from Imagyn's  Richland,  Michigan  facility to our  manufacturing
plants  in  Utica,   New  York.  Such  costs  totaled   $886,000  and  $681,000,
respectively,  before  income  taxes,  or $.02 per diluted  share in each of the
third and fourth quarters of 2001.  These  nonrecurring  charges are included in
cost of sales.

NOTE 12 -- SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

         Selected quarterly  financial data for 2000 and 2001 are as follows (in
thousands, except per share amounts):

                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                 MARCH       JUNE       SEPTEMBER     DECEMBER
                               ---------   ---------  ------------  ------------
2000
Net sales..................    $102,811     $97,878     $92,838      $102,346
Gross profit...............      54,150      50,551      48,702        54,247
Net income.................       7,409       3,516       2,729         5,660
Earnings per share:
     Basic.................        0.32        0.15        0.12          0.25
     Diluted...............        0.32        0.15        0.12          0.24

2001
Net sales..................    $105,909    $104,171    $105,318      $113,324
Gross profit...............      56,235      54,206      53,986        59,921
Net income.................       6,003       5,734       5,015         7,654
Earnings per share:
     Basic.................        0.26        0.25        0.20          0.30
     Diluted...............        0.26        0.25        0.20          0.30

         As  discussed  in Note 11,  during the  quarter  ended  June  2000,  we
incurred a severance  charge of  $1,509,000,  before income  taxes,  or $.04 per
diluted share,  related to a restructuring of our arthroscopy  sales force. This
nonrecurring charge is included in selling and administrative expense.

         As discussed in Notes 2 and 11, during the third and fourth quarters of
2001,  we  incurred  certain  transition  charges  related to the second  Imagyn
acquisition.  Such costs  totaled  $886,000 and $681,000,


                                      F-20



respectively,  before  income  taxes,  or $.02 per diluted  share in each of the
third and fourth quarters of 2001.  These  nonrecurring  charges are included in
cost of sales.

NOTE 13 -- GUARANTOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         Our credit facility and subordinated notes (the "Notes") are guaranteed
(the  "Subsidiary  Guarantees")  by each of our  subsidiaries  (the  "Subsidiary
Guarantors")  except  CRC  (the  "Non-Guarantor  Subsidiary").   The  Subsidiary
Guarantees provide that each Subsidiary Guarantor will fully and unconditionally
guarantee our obligations under the credit facility and the Notes on a joint and
several  basis.  Each  Subsidiary  Guarantor  and  Non-Guarantor  Subsidiary  is
wholly-owned  by  CONMED  Corporation.   The  following  supplemental  financial
information sets forth on a condensed consolidating basis, consolidating balance
sheet,  statement of income and  statement of cash flows for the Parent  Company
Only, Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantor  Subsidiary and for the Company as
of December 2000 and 2001 and for the years ended December 1999, 2000 and 2001.


                                      F-21





                                      CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
                                                  DECEMBER 2000
                                                 (in thousands)

                                                    PARENT
                                                    COMPANY         SUBSIDIARY                         COMPANY
                                                      ONLY          GUARANTORS     ELIMINATIONS         TOTAL
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
                                                                                          
ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents ...............       $      --        $   3,470        $    --          $   3,470
   Accounts receivable, net ................          35,218           43,408             --             78,626
   Inventories .............................          20,174           84,438             --            104,612
   Deferred income taxes ...................           1,761             --               --              1,761
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets             598            2,964             --              3,562
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
      Total current assets .................          57,751          134,280             --            192,031
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
Property, plant and equipment, net .........          38,275           24,175             --             62,450
Goodwill, net ..............................          61,651          164,150             --            225,801
Other intangible assets, net ...............           7,498          187,510             --            195,008
Other assets ...............................         473,408            5,217         (474,344)           4,281
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
   Total assets ............................       $ 638,583        $ 515,332        $(474,344)       $ 679,571
                                                   =========        ==========     ============       =========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
   Current portion of long-term debt .......       $  36,068        $    --          $    --          $  36,068
   Accounts payable ........................           4,398           15,952             --             20,350
   Accrued compensation ....................           2,147            7,766             --              9,913
   Income taxes payable ....................           1,338              641             --              1,979
   Accrued interest ........................           5,130             --               --              5,130
   Other current liabilities ...............           1,890            2,946             --              4,836
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
      Total current liabilities ............          50,971           27,305             --             78,276
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------

Long-term debt .............................         342,680             --               --            342,680
Deferred income taxes ......................          12,154             --               --             12,154
Other long-term liabilities ................           2,175          349,295         (335,612)          15,858
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
   Total liabilities .......................         407,980          376,600         (335,612)         448,968
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------

Shareholders' equity:
   Preferred stock .........................            --               --               --               --
   Common stock ............................             230                1               (1)             230
   Paid-in capital .........................         127,985             --               --            127,985
   Retained earnings .......................         103,834          139,758         (139,758)         103,834
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss ....          (1,027)          (1,027)           1,027           (1,027)
   Less common stock in treasury, at cost ..            (419)            --               --               (419)
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
      Total shareholders' equity ...........         230,603          138,732         (138,732)         230,603
                                                   ---------        ----------     ------------       ---------
        Total liabilities and shareholders'
        equity .............................       $ 638,583        $ 515,332        $(474,344)       $ 679,571
                                                   =========        ==========     ============       =========



                                     F-22






                                                    CONMED CORPORATION
                                          CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
                                                      DECEMBER 2001
                                                      (in thousands)

                                            PARENT                              NON-
                                            COMPANY         SUBSIDIARY       GUARANTOR                          COMPANY
                                             ONLY           GUARANTORS       SUBSIDIARY     ELIMINATIONS         TOTAL
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
                                                                                               
ASSETS
Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents .......       $    --          $   1,181        $     221       $    --          $   1,402
   Accounts receivable, net ........            --              7,198           43,990            --             51,188
   Inventories .....................          23,045           84,345             --              --            107,390
   Deferred income taxes ...........           1,105             --               --              --              1,105
   Prepaid expenses and other
     current assets ................             831            2,633             --              --              3,464
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
      Total current assets .........          24,981           95,357           44,211            --            164,549
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
Property, plant and equipment, net .          45,856           45,170             --              --             91,026
Goodwill, net ......................          86,412          164,728             --              --            251,140
Other intangible assets, net .......           8,177          181,575             --              --            189,752
Other assets .......................         477,798            2,376             --          (475,033)           5,141
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
   Total assets ....................       $ 643,224        $ 489,206        $  44,211       $(475,033)       $ 701,608
                                           =========        ==========       ==========     ============      ==========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
   Current portion of long-
      term debt ....................       $  72,241        $   1,188        $    --         $    --          $  73,429
   Accounts payable ................           5,078           14,799             --              --             19,877
   Accrued compensation ............           3,979            7,884             --              --             11,863
   Income taxes payable ............           2,372              135             --              --              2,507
   Accrued interest ................           4,760               37              157            --              4,954
   Other current liabilities .......           4,634            2,573             --              --              7,207
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
      Total current liabilities ....          93,064           26,616              157            --            119,837
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------

Long-term debt .....................         241,404           21,096             --              --            262,500
Deferred income taxes ..............          18,655             --               --              --             18,655
Other long-term liabilities ........           6,467          285,329           41,947        (316,761)          16,982
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
   Total liabilities ...............         359,590          333,041           42,104        (316,761)         417,974
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------

Shareholders' equity:
   Preferred stock .................            --               --               --              --               --
   Common stock ....................             253                1             --                (1)             253
   Paid-in capital .................         160,757             --              2,000          (2,000)         160,757
   Retained earnings ...............         128,240          158,333              107        (158,440)         128,240
   Accumulated other
     comprehensive loss ............          (5,197)          (2,169)            --             2,169           (5,197)
   Less common stock in treasury,
     at cost .......................            (419)            --               --              --               (419)
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
      Total shareholders' equity ...         283,634          156,165            2,107        (158,272)         283,634
                                           ---------        ----------       ----------     ------------      ----------
        Total liabilities and
        shareholders' equity .......       $ 643,224        $ 489,206        $  44,211       $(475,033)       $ 701,608
                                           =========        ==========       ==========     ============      ==========



                                     F-23





                                                  CONMED CORPORATION
                                     CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 1999
                                                    (in thousands)

                                                         PARENT        SUBSIDIARY
                                                      COMPANY ONLY     GUARANTORS      ELIMINATIONS    COMPANY TOTAL
                                                      ------------     ----------      ------------    -------------
                                                                                             
Net sales......................................        $ 83,612        $292,614         $     --         $376,226
                                                      ------------     ----------      ------------    -------------

Cost of sales..................................          47,178         131,302               --          178,480

Selling and administrative expense.............          26,338          84,504               --          110,842

Research and development expense...............           1,626          10,482               --           12,108
                                                      ------------     ----------      ------------    -------------

                                                         75,142         226,288               --          301,430
                                                      ------------     ----------      ------------    -------------

Income from operations.........................           8,470          66,326               --           74,796

Interest expense, net..........................              --          32,360               --           32,360
                                                      ------------     ----------      ------------    -------------

Income before income taxes.....................           8,470          33,966               --           42,436

Provision for income taxes.....................           3,049          12,228               --           15,277
                                                      ------------     ----------      ------------    -------------

Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated
     subsidiaries..............................           5,421          21,738               --           27,159

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated Subsidiaries        21,738               -          (21,738)              --
                                                      ------------     ----------      ------------    -------------

Net income.....................................       $  27,159        $ 21,738        $ (21,738)        $ 27,159
                                                      ============     ==========      ============    =============



                                     F-24





                                                  CONMED CORPORATION
                                     CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2000
                                                    (in thousands)

                                                         PARENT        SUBSIDIARY
                                                      COMPANY ONLY     GUARANTORS      ELIMINATIONS    COMPANY TOTAL
                                                      ------------   ------------      ------------    -------------
                                                                                            
Net sales......................................        $ 73,632      $322,241          $     --         $395,873
                                                      ------------   ------------      ------------    -------------

Cost of sales..................................          42,461       145,762                --          188,223

Selling and administrative expense.............          20,015       108,301                --          128,316

Research and development expense...............           1,907        12,963                --           14,870
                                                      ------------   ------------      ------------    -------------

                                                         64,383       267,026                --          331,409
                                                      ------------   ------------      ------------    -------------

Income from operations.........................           9,249        55,215                --           64,464

Interest expense, net..........................              --        34,286                --           34,286
                                                      ------------   ------------      ------------    -------------

Income before income taxes.....................           9,249        20,929                --           30,178

Provision for income taxes.....................           3,330         7,534                --           10,864
                                                      ------------   ------------      ------------    -------------

Income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated
     subsidiaries..............................           5,919        13,395                --           19,314

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries        13,395            --           (13,395)              --
                                                      ------------   ------------      ------------    -------------

Net income.....................................        $ 19,314      $ 13,395          $(13,395)        $ 19,314
                                                      ============   ============      ============    =============



                                     F-25





                                                 CONMED CORPORATION
                                    CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2001
                                                   (in thousands)


                                         PARENT      SUBSIDIARY    NON-GUARANTOR
                                      COMPANY ONLY   GUARANTORS      SUBSIDIARY      ELIMINATIONS    COMPANY TOTAL
                                      ------------   ----------      ----------      ------------    -------------
                                                                                         
Net sales........................       $91,609       $337,113        $     --         $     --         $428,722
                                      ------------   ----------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Cost of sales....................        53,534        150,840              --               --          204,374

Selling and administrative expense       27,620        113,302            (362)               -          140,560


Research and development expense.         1,511         13,319              --               --           14,830
                                      ------------   ----------      ----------      ------------    -------------

                                         82,665        277,461            (362)              --          359,764
                                      ------------   ----------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Income from operations...........         8,944         59,652             362                -           68,958

Interest expense, net............            --         30,629             195               --           30,824
                                      ------------   ----------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Income before income taxes.......         8,944         29,023             167               --           38,134

Provision for income taxes.......         3,220         10,448              60               --           13,728
                                      ------------   ----------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Income before equity in earnings of
   unconsolidated subsidiaries...         5,724         18,575             107               --           24,406

Equity in earnings of
   unconsolidated
   subsidiaries..................        18,682             --              --          (18,682)              --
                                      ------------   ----------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Net income.......................       $24,406       $ 18,575        $    107         $(18,682)        $ 24,406
                                      ============   ==========      ==========      ============    =============



                                     F-26






                                                  CONMED CORPORATION
                                    CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 1999
                                                    (in thousands)


                                                        PARENT         SUBSIDIARY
                                                     COMPANY ONLY      GUARANTORS      ELIMINATIONS    COMPANY TOTAL
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------
                                                                                             
Net cash flows from operating activities.......         $11,784        $ 25,657          $     --        $  37,441
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Distributions to subsidiaries.............         (21,885)             --            21,885               --
     Payments related to business acquisitions.              --         (40,585)               --          (40,585)
     Purchases of property, plant and equipment          (4,801)         (4,551)               --           (9,352)
        Net cash provided (used) by investing        ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------
        activities.............................         (26,686)        (45,136)           21,885          (49,937)
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Cash flows from financing:
     Proceeds of long-term debt................          40,900              --                --           40,900
     Distributions from parent.................              --          21,885           (21,885)              --
     Repayments under revolving credit facility          (8,000)             --                --           (8,000)
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock....           1,612              --                --            1,612
     Payments related to issuance of long-term
      debt                                                 (661)             --                --             (661)
     Payments on long-term debt................         (23,103)             --                --          (23,103)
        Net cash provided (used)by financing         ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------
        activities.............................          10,748          21,885           (21,885)          10,748
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
      and cash equivalents.....................              --            (411)               --             (411)
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents......          (4,154)          1,995                --           (2,159)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
      of period................................           4,752           1,154                --            5,906
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.....         $   598        $  3,149          $     --         $  3,747
                                                     ============      ==========      ============    =============



                                     F-27





                                                  CONMED CORPORATION
                                   CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2000
                                                    (in thousands)

                                                        PARENT         SUBSIDIARY
                                                     COMPANY ONLY      GUARANTORS      ELIMINATIONS    COMPANY TOTAL
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------
                                                                                              
Net cash flows from operating activities.......         $18,238         $17,712           $    --         $ 35,950
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Distributions from subsidiaries...........          13,618              --           (13,618)              --
     Payments related to business acquisitions.          (6,042)             --                --           (6,042)
     Purchases of property, plant and
        equipment..............................         (10,940)         (3,110)               --          (14,050)
     Net cash provided (used) by investing           ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------
        activities.............................          (3,364)         (3,110)          (13,618)         (20,092)
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Cash flows from financing:
     Distributions to parent...................              --         (13,618)           13,618               --
     Borrowings under revolving credit
        facility...............................          17,000              --                --           17,000
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock....             449              --                --              449
     Payments on long-term debt................         (32,921)             --                --          (32,921)
        Net cash provided (used) by financing        ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------
        activities.............................         (15,472)        (13,618)           13,618          (15,472)
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
     and cash equivalents......................              --            (663)               --             (663)
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
     equivalents...............................            (598)            321                --             (277)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
     of period.................................             598           3,149                --            3,747
                                                     ------------      ----------      ------------    -------------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.....         $    --        $  3,470           $    --         $  3,470
                                                     ============      ==========      ============    =============



                                     F-28





                                                  CONMED CORPORATION
                                        CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 2001
                                                    (in thousands)

                                             PARENT       SUBSIDIARY    NON-GUARANTOR                      COMPANY
                                          COMPANY ONLY    GUARANTORS      SUBSIDIARY     ELIMINATIONS       TOTAL
                                          ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------
                                                                                              
Net cash flows from operating activities      $44,301      $ 74,574         $40,264        $(81,990)         $77,149
                                          ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Distributions from subsidiaries...          71,629            --              --         (71,629)              --
   Note payable from subsidiary......         (41,947)           --              --          41,947               --
   Net purchases of accounts
      receivable.....................              --            --         (81,990)         81,990
   Purchases of property, plant
      and equipment..................         (10,390)       (4,053)             --              --          (14,443)
      Net cash provided (used) by         ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------
        investing activities.........          19,292        (4,053)        (81,990)         52,308          (14,443)
                                          ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------

Cash flows from financing:
   Distributions to parent...........              --       (71,629)             --          71,629               --
   Note payable to parent company....              --            --          41,947         (41,947)              --
   Borrowings under revolving
      credit facility................          11,000            --              --              --           11,000
   Proceeds from issuance of
      common stock...................           1,830            --              --              --            1,830
   Payments on long-term debt........         (76,423)           --              --              --          (76,423)
   Net cash provided (used) by             ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------
      financing activities...........         (63,593)      (71,629)         41,947          29,682         $(63,593)
                                          ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------

Effect of exchange rate changes
   on cash and cash equivalents......              --        (1,181)             --              --         $ (1,181)
                                          ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and
   cash equivalents..................              --        (2,289)            221              --           (2,068)

Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of period...............              --         3,470              --              --            3,470
                                          ------------    ----------      ----------     ------------     ----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of
   period............................         $    --      $  1,181         $   221        $     --          $ 1,402
                                          ============    ==========      ==========     ============     ==========




                                     F-29



================================================================================



                                3,000,000 Shares


                               CONMED Corporation


                                  Common Stock


                                      LOGO


                               ------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS

                              __________ ___, 2002


                               ------------------



                              Salomon Smith Barney

                                   UBS Warburg

                             Needham & Company, Inc.

                            First Albany Corporation

================================================================================







                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution*

         The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and
distribution of the securities being registered, all of which will be paid by
the Registrant.


         SEC registration fee...............................   $8,026
         NASD filing fee....................................    9,224
         Blue sky fees and expenses.........................
         Printing and engraving expenses....................
         Legal fees and expenses............................
         Accounting fees and expenses.......................
         Transfer agent fees and expenses...................
         Listing fee........................................
         Miscellaneous......................................
                                                               ------------

                 Total......................................   $
                                                               ============

*  All amounts are estimated except for the SEC registration fee and NASD
   filing fee.

Item 15.  Indemnification of Officers and Directors

         Section 722 of the New York Business Corporation Law (the "New York
Law") provides that a corporation may indemnify an officer or director, in the
case of third party actions, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in
settlement and reasonable expenses and, in the case of derivative actions,
against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, if the director or
officer "acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be
in . . . the best interests of the corporation" and, in the case of criminal
actions, "had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful."
Statutory indemnification may not be provided in derivative actions in respect
of a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise
disposed of, or any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have
been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent
that the court in which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought,
any court of competent jurisdiction, determines upon application that, in view
of all of the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement and expenses as the
court deems proper.

         As contemplated by New York Law Section 721, CONMED's Bylaws, as
amended on December 26, 1990, provide a broader basis for indemnification in
accordance with and as permitted by New York Law Article 7.

         Section 6.6 of CONMED's Bylaws provides as follows:

                  Section 6.6 Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify
         each person made or threatened to be made a party to any action or
         proceeding, whether civil or criminal, by reason of the fact that such
         person or such person's testator or intestate is or was a director or
         officer of the Corporation, or serves or served at the request of the
         Corporation, any other corporation,



                                      II-1


         partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
         enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, penalties,
         amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including
         attorneys' fees, incurred in connection with such action or proceeding,
         or any appeal therein, provided that no such indemnification shall be
         made if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to such person
         establishes that his or her acts were committed in bad faith or were
         the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the
         cause of action so adjudicated, or that he or she personally gained in
         fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not
         legally entitled, and provided further that no such indemnification
         shall be required with respect to any settlement or other
         nonadjudicated disposition of any threatened or pending action or
         proceeding unless the Corporation has given its prior consent to such
         settlement or other disposition.

                  The Corporation may advance or promptly reimburse upon request
         any person entitled to indemnification hereunder for all expenses,
         including attorneys' fees, reasonably incurred in defending any action
         or proceeding in advance of the final disposition thereof upon receipt
         of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount
         if such person is ultimately found not to be entitled to
         indemnification or, where indemnification is granted, to the extent the
         expenses so advanced or reimbursed exceed the amount to which such
         person is entitled, provided, however, that such person shall cooperate
         in good faith with any request by the Corporation that common counsel
         be utilized by the parties to an action or proceeding who are similarly
         situated unless to do so would be inappropriate due to actual or
         potential differing interests between or among such parties.

                  Anything in these bylaws to the contrary notwithstanding, no
         elimination of this bylaw, and no amendment of this bylaw adversely
         affecting the right of any person to indemnification or advancement of
         expenses hereunder, shall be effective until the 60th day following
         notice to such person of such action, and no elimination of or
         amendment to this bylaw shall deprive any person of his or her rights
         hereunder arising out of alleged or actual occurrences, acts or
         failures to act prior to such 60th day.

                  The Corporation shall not, except by elimination or amendment
         of this bylaw in a manner consistent with the preceding paragraph, take
         any corporate action or enter into any agreement which prohibits, or
         otherwise limits the rights of any person to, indemnification in
         accordance with the provisions of this bylaw. The indemnification of
         any person provided by this bylaw shall continue after such person has
         ceased to be a director, officer or employee of the Corporation and
         shall inure to the benefit of such person's heirs, executors,
         administrators and legal representatives.

                  The Corporation is authorized to enter into agreements with
         any of its directors, officers or employees extending rights to
         indemnification and advancement of expenses to such person to the
         fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it currently exists, but
         the failure to enter into any such agreement shall not affect or limit
         the rights of such person pursuant to this bylaw, it being expressly
         recognized hereby that all directors, officers and employees of the
         Corporation, by serving as such after the adoption hereof, are acting
         in reliance hereon and that the Corporation is estopped to contend
         otherwise.

                  In case any provision in this bylaw shall be determined at any
         time to be unenforceable in any respect, the other provisions shall not
         in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and the affected provision
         shall be given the fullest possible enforcement in the circumstances,
         it being the intention of the Corporation to afford indemnification and


                                      II-2


         advancement of expenses to its directors, officers and employees,
         acting in such capacities or in the other capacities mentioned herein,
         to the fullest extent permitted by law.

                  For purposes of this bylaw, the Corporation shall be deemed to
         have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the
         performance by such person of his or her duties to the Corporation also
         imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to
         the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan, and excise taxes
         assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant
         to applicable law shall be considered indemnifiable expenses. For
         purposes of this bylaw, the term "Corporation" shall include any legal
         successor to the Corporation, including any corporation which acquires
         all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation in one or
         more transactions.

Item 16.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Exhibit No.   Description
-----------   -----------
1             Form of Underwriting Agreement between the Company and the
                 Underwriters.*
5.1           Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, as to validity of the common
                 stock.*
23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2          Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1          Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages of this
                 Registration Statement).
----------------

* To be filed by Amendment.

Item  17.  Undertakings

         The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant
         to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act (and,
         where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
         report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) that
         is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
         deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
         offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
         be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (2) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
         Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of
         prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance
         upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the
         registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the
         Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement
         as of the time it was declared effective.

                  (3) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
         the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains
         a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
         relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
         securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
         offering thereof.

                  (4) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
         the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
         controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
         provisions, or otherwise (other than pursuant to insurance), the
         Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
         indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the


                                      II-3


         Securities Act and may, therefore, be unenforceable. In the event that
         a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
         payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
         officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful
         defense of any action, suit or proceeding and other than insurance
         payments) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
         in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant
         will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
         by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
         the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
         policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the
         final adjudication of such issue.
























                                      II-4


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Utica and the State of New York, on this 30th day of
April, 2002.

                                     CONMED Corporation



                                     By:      /s/ Joseph J. Corasanti
                                        -----------------------------------
                                     Name:  Joseph J. Corasanti
                                     Title: President & Chief Operating Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Joseph J. Corasanti and Daniel S. Jonas, and each
of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement, and file the same, with all exhibits
thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as
fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of
them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on April 30, 2002.


                   Signature                               Title
                   ---------                               -----

/s/ Eugene R. Corasanti                            Chairman of the Board
---------------------------                Chief Executive Officer and Director
Eugene R. Corasanti

/s/ Robert D. Shallish, Jr.                        Vice President-Finance
---------------------------                     and Chief Financial Officer
Robert D. Shallish, Jr.                        (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Joseph J. Corasanti                          President, Chief Operating
---------------------------                         Officer and Director
Joseph J. Corasanti

/s/ Luke A. Pomilio                        Vice President - Corporate Controller
---------------------------                    (Principal Accounting Officer)
Luke A. Pomilio

/s/ Bruce F. Daniels                                      Director
---------------------------
Bruce F. Daniels


                                      II-5



                   Signature                               Title
                   ---------                               -----

/s/ Robert E. Remmell                                     Director
---------------------------
Robert E. Remmell

/s/ William D. Matthews                                   Director
---------------------------
William D. Matthews

/s/ Stuart J. Schwartz                                    Director
-------------------------
Stuart J. Schwartz



                                      II-6



NY12530:229547.7
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                  Description                       Location
-----------                  -----------                       --------
    1        Form of Underwriting Agreement between   To be filed by Amendment.
             the Company and the Underwriters
   5.1       Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to     To be filed by Amendment.
             the validity of the common stock
  23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP    Filed herewith.
  23.2       Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell           Included in Exhibit 5.1.
  24.1       Powers of Attorney                       Included in signature
                                                      pages of this Registration
                                                      Statement.